200 UK health leaders advocate for a "polluter pays" levy on tobacco companies to generate £700M annually for tobacco control in the upcoming budget.

Nearly 200 UK health leaders are urging Chancellor Rishi Sunak to invest in anti-smoking initiatives in the upcoming budget on October 30. They advocate for a "polluter pays" levy on tobacco companies to generate £700 million annually for tobacco control. The letter emphasizes the economic burden of smoking, costing the UK £93 billion yearly, and calls for dedicated funding for stop-smoking services and global tobacco control efforts.