The Center for Studies in Health Planning and Management (FGVsaúde), part of the São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP), has launched a study, funded by the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which proposes increasing taxes on tobacco products. The idea is to use the revenue to strengthen prevention and combat actions against smoking, nicotine addiction and lung cancer, in addition to improving access to diagnosis and treatment of the disease. 

The proposal recommends that Brazil follow the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which suggest a minimum tax burden of 75% of the final price of cigarettes. Currently, this burden is around 70%. Countries in the European Union, for example, exceed 80%. The study also proposes that taxes be adjusted regularly based on inflation, which could help reduce consumption. 

“Taxing products that are harmful to health and allocating resources to public policies is an essential strategy to strengthen the SUS and reduce inequalities in access to health,” says Ana Maria Malik, professor at FGV EAESP. 

The study is an offshoot of previous research developed under the PHSSR (Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience), supported by the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which also funded the new edition. The proposal includes measures to increase public health financing and strengthen integrated policies to combat lung cancer. 

According to Dr. Fabíola Perin, president of the Alliance Against Lung Cancer, screening at-risk groups and quitting smoking can reduce mortality from the disease by up to 38%. Currently, 85% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early detection increases the survival rate to up to 92% in the initial stages. 

The research used a mixed methodology, with documentary analysis and 15 interviews with experts from different areas, in addition to a workshop with representatives of public institutions and civil society. The objective was to ensure the political viability of the recommendations. 

Among the proposed actions are : 

• Periodic updating of the tax burden based on inflation and income; 
• Partial linking of revenue to public health programs; 
• Strengthening primary care and smoking cessation; 
• Creation of mechanisms for tracking resource allocation; 
• Expansion of guidelines for lung cancer screening and treatment; 
• Strengthening intersectoral committees and monitoring of electronic smoking devices. 

The proposal is also in line with the recent WHO resolution on respiratory diseases, which advocates integrated prevention actions, early diagnosis and sustainable financing. It is estimated that lung cancer costs more than R$1.3 billion per year in Brazil, with one third of deaths occurring among people of working age. 

Check out the full study here.