President orders study on financial incentives for quitting smoking
President Muizzu stated that the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to promote a tobacco-free society.
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President Mohamed Muizzu has directed a study to explore the possibility of providing financial incentives to individuals who quit smoking.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, President Muizzu stated that the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to promote a tobacco-free society.
The President said he has instructed relevant ministers at this week's Cabinet meeting to conduct a study and submit a policy paper on implementing a financial reward system. The proposal involves depositing a monetary incentive into the bank accounts of residents in rural areas who permanently stop smoking.
The government has introduced several measures aimed at reducing tobacco use. These include:
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A ban on the sale of tobacco to individuals under the age of 21
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Prohibition of vape imports and usage in the Maldives
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Increased taxes on tobacco products
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Legal restrictions on the sale of tobacco to future generations born after 2007
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently presented a special award to President Muizzu in recognition of the government’s anti-tobacco initiatives.
