Maldives to Finalise Tobacco Control Master Plan by Early Next Year

The Maldives’ Tobacco Control Master Plan is set to be completed early next year, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim announced.

The Minister made the remarks during the opening ceremony of a roundtable meeting held yesterday to discuss amendments to the Drug Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

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Speaking at the event, Minister Nazim highlighted the bold public health initiatives undertaken by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, contrasting them with what he described as the shortcomings of previous administrations.

Under President Muizzu’s directives, several tobacco products have already been banned in the Maldives as part of the government’s efforts to achieve a tobacco-free society. The Ministry of Health is currently drafting a comprehensive long-term plan for tobacco control, which will be finalised early next year and implemented immediately thereafter.

As part of the plan, cessation clinics are being established nationwide, with staff training already in progress.

The roundtable meeting, co-organised by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), is the fourth of its kind this year. The discussions focus on strengthening tobacco control measures in the Maldives and protecting children and youth from tobacco use.

The government has implemented significant anti-tobacco policies, including increasing import duties on cigarettes and imposing a nationwide ban on the sale and use of vape products.

UNICEF has been instrumental in facilitating such roundtable meetings since last year, providing a platform for stakeholders to address public health challenges and propose solutions.

With these measures, the Maldives aims to create a healthier environment for its citizens, particularly the younger generation, by reducing tobacco use and its associated risks.