Geela: Tobacco-related decisions guided by research, expert consultation

Health Minister Geela Ali, on Thursday, stated that the current administration’s decisions on tobacco control are guided by research and expert consultation to ensure effective outcomes.

Speaking at a consultative meeting with relevant stakeholders on the ‘Dhen Huttaalamaa’ (Let's Quit) tobacco cessation campaign, Minister Geela emphasized that the government has placed unprecedented priority on protecting the community from the harms of tobacco.

She detailed that the administration’s goal is to establish a tobacco-free society and highlighted several significant decisions that have already been made and implemented towards achieving this objective.

"A generational ban has been established, and free tobacco cessation services have been made available across all islands. Furthermore, efforts are underway to increase the involvement of civil society organizations in these initiatives. Every legislative and administrative decision is reached through extensive consultation, grounded in technical research and empirical evidence to ensure impactful and sustainable results," the Minister stated.

Additionally, Minister Geela revealed that the government has decided to implement a comprehensive five-year national campaign.

While the government continues its efforts to curb tobacco use, it initially introduced a substantial increase in cigarette prices. However, following a significant rise in the illicit cigarette trade, the government subsequently reduced the import duty on cigarettes, citing recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). The reduction in import duty led to a decline in cigarette prices in the Maldivian market, a decision that has faced widespread public criticism.