Assessing the solutions to tobacco control's funding gap problem

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• International Treaties
• Health Economics

Background:

• The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), established in 2005, has achieved widespread ratification and led to decreased tobacco consumption.
• Despite successes, FCTC implementation is uneven globally, with a substantial funding gap impeding progress.
• The 2019-2025 Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control faces barriers, notably a lack of sustainable, long-term funding.

Discussion:

• The global funding gap for tobacco control is estimated at US$427.4 billion, exacerbated by the pandemic.
• This paper analyzes feasible and effective solutions to bridge the tobacco control funding gap.
• Existing solutions include Official Development Assistance, FCTC-funded projects, and domestic resource mobilization through tobacco taxes.

Key Insights:

• Governments require adequate funding to implement FCTC policies and interventions effectively.
• Uneven FCTC implementation highlights disparities in resource allocation across nations.
• Sustainable funding is crucial for accelerating tobacco control progress globally.

Outlook:

• New funding options, such as pooled financing mechanisms, should be considered.
• A combination of existing and novel funding strategies is necessary.
• Ensuring adequate national tobacco control budgets is vital for FCTC and Global Strategy success.