In recent years, healthy taxes have become a tool to promote public health around the world. In Colombia, the 2022 Tax Reform (Law 2277) included taxes on sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods (soft drinks, artificial juices, fried foods, among others), with the aim of reducing their consumption and preventing Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

However, there are still many questions about how the collection of these taxes will be used and whether they will really have a positive impact on the health of the population.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), healthy taxes are effective in preventing NCDs such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, they are part of a comprehensive strategy to improve the health of the population.

But despite their potential, healthy taxes also have some important limitations that must be considered. First, there is a risk that they are regressive, i.e., that they disproportionately affect low-income people.

This is because unhealthy products are often cheaper and more accessible than fresh and nutritious foods. If healthy taxes increase in price, people with fewer resources may be forced to buy less healthy foods.

Another important limitation is the lack of evidence on the actual impact of healthy taxes on public health. Although there is some evidence that these may contribute to reducing consumption of unhealthy products, it is not yet clear whether this translates into a significant reduction in NCDs. Moreover, some studies suggest that they may be less effective in countries with high levels of poverty and inequality.

Despite these limitations, healthy taxes continue to be an important tool for improving the health of the population. In Colombia, including them has been an important step towards the prevention of NCDs. However, it is important to ensure that the money is used appropriately to improve public health and to indirectly avoid its collection.

In this regard, in countries such as Mexico and France, the revenues generated by healthy taxes have been used to finance programs for prevention, diagnosis, treatment of chronic diseases and educational campaigns on nutrition and physical activity to address NCDs.

Continuing with these examples, in Colombia it would be important that the proceeds from healthy taxes are allocated to similar initiatives to maximize their impact on the country’s public health.

Therefore, in order to maximize the positive impact of healthy taxes, it is necessary to take additional measures. First, it is important for the government to invest in educational programs on nutrition and physical activity to help people make more informed choices about their diet and lifestyle.

This can include media advertising campaigns, school and community programs, and the training of health personnel specialized in nutrition and physical activity.

In addition, it is important that policymakers work to combat poverty and inequality. These are factors that impact NCDs because people with fewer resources have less access to fresh, nutritious food and quality health care services.

Finally, it is important for the population to take steps to improve their own health. This may include making healthier food choices, reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption, and increasing physical activity, habits that will improve their quality of life.

Ultimately, it is in self-care that contributes to the Primary Care strategy and to enhance the articulated work with health services.

Column references

• Hernández E. Atención primaria y determinantes sociales en salud en la formación de recursos humanos en Colombia para el mejoramiento de la salud de la población [Doctoral thesis]. Alicante: Miguel Hernández University, 2017.
• Bello J. Benefits of healthy taxes in the region of the Americas: a scoping review [Master’s thesis]. Chía: Universidad de La Sabana, 2023.

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