ISLAMABAD (ABC): To combat non-communicable diseases, Pakistan National Heart Association organized a workshop.
Addressing the workshop, Dr. Nasir Cheema emphasized the need for collective action to prevent such diseases and highlighted the role of parliamentarians in contributing to this noble cause.
Secretary General of Panah, Sanaullah Ghuman, raised concerns about the rapid increase in diseases due to the consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, leading to significant health and economic losses. He advocated for imposing federal excise taxes on products like biscuits, chips, chocolates, ice cream, candies, processed meats, and increasing taxes on sugary drinks to discourage their consumption and promote healthier alternatives.
Representative of Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Munawar Hussain, stressed the importance of implementing effective policies by the government to address the growing health crisis. He suggested utilizing revenue from these taxes to subsidize healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and pulses.
Participants of the workshop highlighted the devastating impact of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes on individuals, families, and the nation as a whole. They called for the formulation of relevant and effective policies by federal and provincial ministries to prevent non-communicable diseases, especially those arising from ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. They urged for certainty in increasing taxes on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks to both boost the country’s revenue and aid in disease prevention.
Furthermore, there was a strong emphasis on subsidizing only healthy food items in utility stores.