Spend surcharge from tobacco products to prevent diseases

The government should spend the health development surcharge (HDS) collected from cigarettes and other tobacco products in the prevention of non-communicable diseases, said speakers at a views exchange meeting yesterday.

Praising the government for its role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), Vital Strategies Director Rebecca Perl said if the health tax is spent to prevent non-communicable diseases, it will save lives of millions and help achieve the goals.

The government has been collecting 1 percent HDS on tobacco products.

The meeting was organised by Vital Strategies, a New York-based non-profit organisation, at a Dhaka hotel. Rebecca said the uses of HDS in prevention of such diseases prove successful in Vietnam and Thailand.

Mohammad Abdus Sobhan, deputy secretary, Ministry of Information; Dr Md Shahidul Islam, commissioner, Custom, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (West); and Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, coordinator, National Tobacco Control Cell, addressed the programme.

Shafiqul Islam, country adviser to Vital Strategies, screened a power point presentation.