United Nations, July 7, (RHC), - The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments to raise taxes on tobacco, warning that smoking-related deaths would increase further unless further measures are taken.

The warning came on Tuesday in a statement dubbed the Report on the Global Tobacco, which said that global tobacco consumption currently kills six million people each year, more than the combined fatalities from AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

The report said that, without effective measures, the figure would increase to eight million by 2030.

At the moment, only 33 of the organization’s 194 member countries have tariffs amounting to 75 percent of the overall sale prices of all tobacco products, as recommended by the Geneva-based UN health agency.

“Raising taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective – and cost-effective – ways to reduce consumption of products that kill, while also generating substantial revenue,” according to WHO Director General Margaret Chan.