WHO Backs Parliamentary Action as PAP Pushes Health Tax Reforms in Arusha

PAP President Fateh Boutbig urges health tax reforms at the IPU Assembly in Arusha as WHO backs parliamentary action on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks.

Arusha, Tanzania, 6 October 2026 — The Pan-African Parliament is pressing for stronger parliamentary action on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drink taxes, bringing public health and domestic financing into focus at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Leading PAP’s delegation to the Assembly, President H.E. Dr. Fateh Boutbig called on legislators to strengthen laws, financing and oversight to protect public health. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed confidence in parliamentarians’ ability to advance health taxes and commended Boutbig’s leadership of the continental institution, according to PAP’s releases.

Their interventions at a joint IPU–WHO workshop on 6 October placed a practical question before lawmakers: how can tax policy help prevent disease while generating resources for health and development?

For African parliaments, the discussion connects decisions taken in legislative chambers with everyday concerns about medical bills, access to treatment and the sustainability of public health services.

Boutbig calls for laws, budgets and oversight that deliver results

Speaking at the Arusha International Conference Centre, Boutbig urged parliamentarians to translate health commitments into legislation, adequate financing and measurable improvements for citizens.

“The decisions we make in Parliament today can save lives, ease the burden on families, and strengthen the resilience of our health systems for tomorrow,” he said.

The workshop, entitled Parliamentary Leadership on Health Taxes for a Healthier and Prosperous Future: Country Experiences and Lessons Learned, examined how legislators can develop, adopt and oversee reforms targeting products that contribute to preventable illness.

Boutbig outlined four priorities for parliamentary action:

1.     Evidence-based legislation: design reforms using national data and scientific evidence.

2.     Stronger health budgets: support prevention, primary health care and access to medicines.

3.     Effective oversight: scrutinize implementation, revenue collection and policy outcomes.

4.     Public engagement: explain the objectives and implications of reforms and listen to citizens’ concerns.

His message placed responsibility beyond the passage of a tax law. Parliamentarians must also examine whether the policy is implemented effectively, whether revenue is collected transparently and whether public spending responds to health needs.

What health taxes could mean for African countries

Health taxes target products such as tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages. By increasing prices and reducing affordability, they can discourage harmful consumption while raising domestic revenue.

WHO launched its “3 by 35” initiative in July 2025, calling for health taxes to increase the real prices of these products by at least 50 per cent by 2035. The initiative combines disease prevention with domestic resource mobilization at a time of pressure on health systems, development assistance and public finances.

“Real prices” means prices adjusted for inflation. The target concerns the prices consumers pay; it is not a proposal for a uniform 50 per cent tax rate across countries.

For African governments and legislatures, the relevance lies in the possibility of reducing preventable illness while strengthening domestic financing. However, additional tax revenue does not automatically become additional health funding. Budget decisions, transparent allocation and sustained parliamentary scrutiny remain essential to connecting revenue with better services.

Boutbig emphasized that reforms should reflect national circumstances and consider their effects on low-income households. He also called for safeguards against conflicts of interest and stronger oversight of tax evasion, illicit trade and the use of public resources.

These considerations make cooperation between parliamentary health and finance committees particularly important: health objectives, revenue policy and household impacts need to be examined together.

WHO support reinforces the parliamentary role

According to PAP’s account of the workshop, Dr. Tedros highlighted the role parliamentarians can play in advancing policies that protect health and strengthen domestic resources. He also praised Boutbig’s leadership and efforts to advance the agenda across Africa.

The exchange underscored the importance of legislative involvement throughout the reform process. Governments may develop tax proposals, but parliaments help shape the laws, approve budgets and hold implementing authorities accountable.

The workshop examined how lawmakers can build political support, address opposition and maintain oversight after reforms are adopted. Participants also considered technical assistance and capacity-building that WHO and the IPU could provide to national parliaments.

Fadimetou Habib brings PAP’s committee perspective

Hon. Dr. Fadimetou Habib of Mauritania, Vice-Chairperson of PAP’s Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs and a former PAP Vice-President, participated as a panelist in the parliamentary dialogue.

Her participation brought PAP’s specialized committee perspective into discussions involving country experiences from Tanzania, Poland, Malaysia and Mauritania.

The dialogue explored opportunities and barriers to reform, parliamentary strategies for implementation and the responsibilities that continue after legislation is enacted.

Alongside Boutbig’s opening intervention, Habib’s contribution linked PAP’s political leadership with its committee work on health and social policy.

PAP advances African priorities at the IPU Assembly

The health tax discussions form part of PAP’s wider participation in the 153rd IPU Assembly, taking place in Arusha from 5 to 9 October 2026.

As an Associate Member of the IPU, PAP is contributing to deliberations under the theme “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.”

The delegation’s programme includes following the work of the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and Committee on Middle East Questions, alongside the forums of women and young parliamentarians. The Governing Council is also scheduled to elect a new IPU President.

Boutbig is expected to hold bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders from Africa and beyond to strengthen cooperation and advance shared African priorities. Those engagements offer opportunities to connect continental concerns with the wider international parliamentary agenda.

From the Arusha dialogue to national action

Boutbig proposed practical follow-up through identifying parliamentary needs, facilitating technical assistance, encouraging coordination across relevant sectors and periodically assessing progress.

For PAP, the opportunity is to help sustain cooperation among national parliaments and strengthen the capacity of committees responsible for health and finance. The test of the Arusha discussions will be whether they inform national legislation, budget choices and effective oversight.

“Our responsibility is to turn knowledge into legislation, commitments into financing, and decisions into tangible results for our citizens,” Boutbig said. “Protecting health is an investment in people—and in the future of Africa.”

 

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