1.Effectiveness of sugar sweetened beverages tax on health and healthcare costs: A systematic review
Diana Safraa Selimin ; Nazarudin Safian, ; Mohd Rohaizat Hassan ; Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf ; Qistina Mohd Ghazali
International Journal of Public Health Research 2023;13(no.2):1792-1807
Introduction:
Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is one of many other best strategies
to reduce consumption of SSB among populations. It is known that SSB
consumption is the main contributor which cause obesity and further lead to
non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to gather the evidence on the
effectiveness of sugar-sweetened beverages tax implementation, in terms of
health outcome and healthcare cost benefit.
Methods:
A systematic review was done related to literature that reported about
effectiveness of sugar-sweetened beverages tax implementation, in terms of
health outcome and healthcare cost benefit. Four databases were used to
identify the literature, namely PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and Ovid and
Medline. PRISMA flow checklist was used as a guide to search for the eligible
articles.
Results:
In total, there were sixteen eligible articles included in this systematic review.
All studies are simulation studies. Results showed that both excise and ad
valorem tax are effective to reduce healthcare costs and could avert diseases
related to high sugar intake. Other than that, it is proven that implementing tax
will gain favorable health outcome rather than do nothing. Better results seen
when the tax is increased.
Conclusion
As a conclusion, SSB tax is proven as an effective public health intervention
in terms of giving benefit to the health outcome and healthcare cost
2.Plain Packaging and Pictorial Warning in Asia Countries: Where are We?
Kavita-Jetly ; Azmawati Mohammed Nawi ; Qistina Mohd Ghazali ; Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf
International Journal of Public Health Research 2022;12(no.1):1545-1555
Worldwide, around 8 million people die yearly due to tobacco usage. Cigarette smoking is the most popular form of tobacco usage. Smoking has linked to many detrimental health effects among adults and adolescents. Recognising the burden of smoking, World Health Organization have implemented various tobacco control strategies under the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control and mPOWER. This includes implementation of plain packaging and pictorial warning. In Asia, only Thailand, Singapore, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel have implemented plain cigarette pack. However, some countries have made progress to implement plain cigarette pack. Although some countries have not implemented plain pack, implementation of larger pictorial warning serve as a pathway for implementation of plain packaging. Countries with pictorial warning on cigarette pack should ensure it covers at least 50% of pack. Timor Leste has the largest pictorial warning on cigarette pack in the world. In conclusion, only 5 countries in Asia have implemented plain pack and some countries in this region are yet to implement size of pictorial warning according to requirement of World Health Organization. All countries should target to implement standardized pack to denormalise tobacco usage.