HPA Proposes Increased Taxes on Tobacco
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has proposed additional taxes on tobacco products in the Maldives to reduce their use.
In an article titled “Let’s Save Children and Youth from Tobacco,” published on the Ministry of Health website, the HPA expressed concern about the rising use of electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches among teenagers and young people in the Maldives.
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The agency advocates for increased taxation on these products, with some of the revenue earmarked for tobacco control and health promotion initiatives.
The 2021-2022 Step Survey, which assesses risks related to non-communicable diseases, highlights that children in the Maldives are initiating tobacco use as young as eight years old.
The Global School Health Survey, which targets students aged 13 to 17, reveals that some children start smoking before the age of seven, raising significant concern for the HPA.
According to the surveys, the percentage of children aged 13 to 17 using tobacco products fell from 14.7 per cent in 2009 to 12.3 per cent in 2014, a decline attributed to the establishment of no-smoking zones across the Maldives.
However, the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey showed a rise in tobacco use among children, increasing from 4.3 per cent in 2011 to 4.7 per cent in 2019. The overall proportion of children who smoke also surged from 11.2 per cent to 45.7 per cent during the same period.
The HPA pointed out that the Maldives spends MVR 1.8 billion annually to import 400 million cigarettes, with additional significant expenses for importing e-cigarettes and tobacco used in hookahs.
The universal health insurance scheme, Aasandha, also faces considerable costs associated with treating tobacco-related diseases.
Concerned about the escalating number of tobacco-related illnesses, the HPA emphasised the high long-term treatment costs and the substantial impact on quality of life. The agency has called for measures to halt the advertising and marketing of tobacco products, prevent new exposures, and monitor the tobacco trade.
