Increase Taxation Of Tobacco Products On South Korea And...

Amy Tseng G H 511: Problems in Global Health Critical Analysis Paper December 2, 2014 Word Count: 1,536 Increase taxation of tobacco products in South Korea to reduce the levels of noncommunicable diseases Introduction and Background One of the major global public health challenges of the 21st century is noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Current global mortality from NCDs remains exceedingly high and continues to increase. According to World Health Organization (WHO) 2014 estimates, 38 million people die around the world each year from NCDs, mainly from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes1. NCDs are a pressing health concern for the global community. During the creation of the Millennium†¦show more content†¦As the world population increases in size and age, there will also naturally be an increase in the absolute numbers of deaths. There are enormous economic consequences of NCDs due to the combined burden of health care costs and economic productivity lost including illness and premature deaths. Ethnic variations in susceptibility to disease are also concerns. For example, there is an increased risk of stroke in East Asian populations and increased risk of coronary heart disease in South Asians2. East Asia is one of the world’s largest tobacco epidemic regions3. This paper will specifically examine South Korea and how the tobacco industry contributes to the development of NCDs. The population-based policy intervention of increasing taxation of tobacco products will be reviewed. Killing approximately 5 million people worldwide every year, tobacco use is the most important preventable risk factor for premature deaths4. In South Korea, about 21% of all deaths are attributable to tobacco4, which is a very large percentage. In addition, cigarette smoking contributes to almost 35% of the mortality inequality among middle-aged, Korean men4. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was the first international treaty by the WHO and was signed by South Korea in 2003 and ratified in 20054. South Korea has one of the highest prevalence of smoking in the world, making it a