The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a 50% increase in taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks across Africa, aiming to boost health sector funding and save lives.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call at the 2025 Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, which focused on closing the continent’s health infrastructure gap.

The proposed tax hike is expected to raise significant revenue for healthcare investment while reducing consumption of harmful products linked to chronic diseases.

The summit comes at a time of dwindling donor support, prompting renewed calls for domestic resource mobilization to address Africa’s growing health challenges.