Ethiopia Addresses Noncommunicable Diseases through Fiscal Measures

A high-level policy dialogue workshop was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss the rising incidence of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and the use of fiscal measures to prevent and mitigate their economic, public health, and equity impacts.

NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are responsible for 52% of mortality in Ethiopia.

Unhealthy products and lifestyle changes contribute to the increasing prevalence of NCDs.

The workshop, organized by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization-Ethiopia, focused on the benefits of fiscal measures, such as excise tax and price increases, in reducing NCD-related premature deaths and improving citizens’ quality of life and economic productivity.