To fight obesity, the British NHS wants to introduce a tax on sugary drinks sold in hospitals. A measure that arouses controversy across the Channel.
A sugar tax in all hospitals. This is the ambitious plan announced by the NHS, the British national health system. Her boss, Simon Stevens, announced in an interview granted to the newspaper The Guardian, that by 2020, a 20% tax could be implemented on all sodas and sugary drinks sold in cafeterias in establishments that depend on the NHS.
Lead by example
The goal is simple. This is to discourage patients and healthcare professionals from buying sugary products. In addition to the health benefits of these people, this tax could bring between 20 and 40 million pounds per year (between 26 and 52 million euros) for the NHS. A sum that should finance initiatives to improve the health and working conditions of its thousands of employees.
“As healthcare professionals we have a responsibility, we must lead by example. Our role should not be limited to supporting patients, we should also draw their attention to the fact that changes like this can have a positive impact on public health, ”stresses Simon Stevens.
Implementation should be gradual. The idea is to introduce the tax in the contracts that will be renegotiated little by little (in the next three to five years), with the catering service providers who supply the NHS canteens.
However, there is no consensus on the decision. NHS representatives in Wales and Northern Ireland have already announced that they are against.
Great debate on sugar
In addition, the debate on a national sugar tax has been raging for several months in Great Britain, while obesity affects nearly a quarter of the population.
The NHS took an active part in the discussion, publishing a report at the end of October on the health scourge of overweight and diabetes in the country, and calling for the introduction of such a tax at the national level.
Prime Minister David Cameron has long rejected the idea, relying on arguments from many liberal think-tanks who deemed it unfair to industries in the sector.
However, its position could change as the government prepares to present its strategy to fight childhood obesity. He could decide to take a cue from Mexico, where obesity hits children hard. In this country, sales of soda have been reduced by 12% after the introduction of such a measure, with long-term health benefits for young people.
#Health public: The soda tax relaunched across the Channel by the NHS which wants to introduce it in hospitals https://t.co/7eHnNKA6jh
– Pourquoidocteur (@Pourquoidocteur) January 19, 2016
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