They plan to increase cigarette tax to benefit the health sector

• May 3, 2024

The objective is to increase the cost of the cigarette package by 10 pesos, in order to meet the expenses incurred by the health sector, due to the diseases that smoking triggers.

The proposal was presented by the senator, Ernesto Saro who indicated that by increasing the price of cigarettes it will be possible to avoid the premature death of up to one million people in the country.

He also president of the Health Commission of the Senate of the Republic, said that this proposal now has the endorsement of 60 senators from all political parties and that it was handed over to the Finance Commission.

The strategy

Saro said that the legislative proposal raises 40 cents per cigarette, which represents an increase of eight to 10 pesos per pack and also repeals the transition that gives graduality to the increase of the two pesos.

In this sense, the official clarified that the increase, would imply additional resources for about 25 billion pesos.

The distribution of these resources would go to a fund: 20% to states and municipalities and 80% would be at the discretion of the federation.

Video Medicine: Tobacco Companies Spending MILLIONS To Defeat Healthcare Expansion In Midterms (May 2024).