Healthcare Sector Denied Earnings From Cigarette Tax

In the Iranian years ending March 2018 and March 2019, the Health Ministry did not receive a penny of its 50% share in cigarette tax revenues, the head of the National Tobacco Control Secretariat of the ministry said. 
"Had this revenue been allocated, it could have been spent on treatment of tobacco-related diseases and smoking prevention education," Behzad Valizadeh added.
Noting that tobacco tax rate must be based on retail prices and not factory prices, the official said, “With the current calculation procedure, the country’s tax rate on cigarette is less than 15%, which is not an effective deterrent to smoking.” 
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco taxes must account for at least 70-75% of the retail prices for tobacco products in order to help reduce consumption.