Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries
Abstract The world is observing a rapid shift in the burden of diseases with predominance of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs contribute to 41 million deaths which is equivalent to 74% of all death globally per year. There is ongoing debate on the approaches to reduce public exposure to NCDs�...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1974 |
| _version_ | 1797236997993005056 |
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| author | Baraka L. Max Harold L. Mashauri |
| author_facet | Baraka L. Max Harold L. Mashauri |
| author_sort | Baraka L. Max |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The world is observing a rapid shift in the burden of diseases with predominance of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs contribute to 41 million deaths which is equivalent to 74% of all death globally per year. There is ongoing debate on the approaches to reduce public exposure to NCDs' modifiable risk factors which are of economic potential. As the World Health Organization and the World Bank recommend the implementation of taxation to these factors, still questions arise on the effectiveness, sustainability, and practicality of this strategy. With the ongoing transition globally from consumption of natural to processed foods, it is important to counter‐check the best interventions on how to protect people from unhealthy eating behaviors. While taxation on unhealthy food and other products like tobacco has been recommended as one among interventional approaches, its effectiveness on sugar sweetened beverages is not reliable compared to approaches that increase self‐control. Despite the perceived economic benefits of tobacco and sugar sweetened products, there is detrimental implication in terms of public health. The introduction of taxation which favors public health faces challenges due to conflict of interest from government authorities and other stakeholders. The intertwined relationship between public health and economic development becomes more obvious during implementation of preventive and control measures against modifiable risk factors for NCDs. It is evident that reaching a balanced rational decision on choosing between economic growth and public health is difficult. Countries should enhance both local and international intersectoral and multisectoral approaches in creating integrative policies which include health component in all non‐health policies including economic policies so as to harmonize public health and economic growth during this era of extensive globalization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:12:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64ed6cd3d45c40ac8e29efed38269153 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:12:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-64ed6cd3d45c40ac8e29efed382691532024-03-28T08:36:41ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352024-03-0173n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.1974Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countriesBaraka L. Max0Harold L. Mashauri1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College Moshi TanzaniaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College Moshi TanzaniaAbstract The world is observing a rapid shift in the burden of diseases with predominance of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs contribute to 41 million deaths which is equivalent to 74% of all death globally per year. There is ongoing debate on the approaches to reduce public exposure to NCDs' modifiable risk factors which are of economic potential. As the World Health Organization and the World Bank recommend the implementation of taxation to these factors, still questions arise on the effectiveness, sustainability, and practicality of this strategy. With the ongoing transition globally from consumption of natural to processed foods, it is important to counter‐check the best interventions on how to protect people from unhealthy eating behaviors. While taxation on unhealthy food and other products like tobacco has been recommended as one among interventional approaches, its effectiveness on sugar sweetened beverages is not reliable compared to approaches that increase self‐control. Despite the perceived economic benefits of tobacco and sugar sweetened products, there is detrimental implication in terms of public health. The introduction of taxation which favors public health faces challenges due to conflict of interest from government authorities and other stakeholders. The intertwined relationship between public health and economic development becomes more obvious during implementation of preventive and control measures against modifiable risk factors for NCDs. It is evident that reaching a balanced rational decision on choosing between economic growth and public health is difficult. Countries should enhance both local and international intersectoral and multisectoral approaches in creating integrative policies which include health component in all non‐health policies including economic policies so as to harmonize public health and economic growth during this era of extensive globalization.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1974economic prioritiesglobalizationnoncommunicable diseasespolitical dilemmapublic health |
| spellingShingle | Baraka L. Max Harold L. Mashauri Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries Health Science Reports economic priorities globalization noncommunicable diseases political dilemma public health |
| title | Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries |
| title_full | Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries |
| title_fullStr | Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries |
| title_short | Economic priorities over population health: A political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries |
| title_sort | economic priorities over population health a political dilemma in addressing noncommunicable diseases in developing countries |
| topic | economic priorities globalization noncommunicable diseases political dilemma public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1974 |
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