In a bold move to drive universal health coverage, the Ethiopian parliament in collusion with the country’s health ministry is championing reforms of financing the sector, a statement to APA on Thursday suggests.
It is described as a landmark show of political will and multisectoral collaboration to embrace health taxes as a strategic tool to strengthen the national health system, curbing the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and advancing its journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
This momentous collaboration was showcased during a high-level training workshop held from 13 to 14 June 2025 in Adama, Ethiopia.
The forum was jointly organised by WHO Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and with generous financial support from the Norwegian government.
The two-day event brought together 63 MPs and parliamentary staff as well as 13 senior officials of the Ministry of Health, reaffirming the critical role of legislative bodies in shaping public health through economic policy.
The workshop focused on consolidating the capacity of lawmakers to further understand and champion health taxes—specifically excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
These taxes are globally recognised for their dual impact, discouraging the use of harmful products while at the same time generating sustainable revenue to fund essential health services.
WN/as/APA