Fathi Boutbig Calls for Stronger African Health Legislation
Fathi Boutbig, the President of the African Parliament, has urged African legislators to reinforce public health legislation, secure increased funding, and enhance oversight mechanisms. His call, made during an opening address at a workshop in Arusha, Tanzania, highlighted the need for evidence-based tax reforms to combat diseases and improve health systems throughout the continent. The workshop, titled “Parliamentary Leadership on Health Taxation for a Healthier, More Prosperous Future,” was co-hosted by Boutbig and the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on the sidelines of the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
President Boutbig commended the effective collaboration between the WHO and the Inter-Parliamentary Union in transforming international health commitments into actionable national initiatives. He stressed that current parliamentary decisions could save lives and alleviate burdens on families. Citing WHO figures, Boutbig noted that non-communicable diseases led to approximately 43 million deaths in 2021, including 18 million premature deaths of individuals under the age of 70, underscoring the urgent necessity for investment in prevention and support for vulnerable populations. He outlined parliamentary priorities, which included adopting data-driven reforms that consider low-income families, safeguarding public decisions from conflicts of interest, augmenting budgets for prevention and primary healthcare, and improving access to essential medicines. Boutbig also emphasized the importance of parliamentary oversight in combating tax evasion and illicit trade, ensuring transparency, and proposed practical follow-up mechanisms involving periodic evaluation and technical assistance.
The WHO Director-General expressed confidence in parliamentarians' capacity to advance health-supportive tax reforms, praising President Boutbig's leadership in driving this continental effort. Discussions at the workshop, which included international experts, affirmed that imposing taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sweetened beverages effectively reduces the consumption of harmful products, helps prevent chronic diseases, and generates local revenues for nations. An Algerian parliamentary delegation, comprising members from both chambers of its parliament, is actively participating in the 153rd IPU Assembly and its associated meetings in Tanzania.
