The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide public opinion study to assess the feasibility of offering financial incentives to island communities that achieve complete cessation of tobacco use, marking a significant step in the government’s intensifying campaign against smoking. The initiative forms a core component of a five-year master plan, being developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization, aimed at building a tobacco-free society across the country.
Designed to inform the broader strategy, the study seeks to gauge public sentiment on the prospect of awarding monetary benefits to entire island populations that successfully eliminate tobacco consumption, the health ministry said. It also examines perceptions of community awareness, identifies challenges encountered during policy implementation, and highlights areas for future improvement. Ministry officials have highlighted that all participant data will be treated with strict confidentiality and used exclusively to guide future tobacco control efforts.
The master plan, initiated by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, will outline mechanisms to recognise socially active groups and confer awards upon islands that maintain tobacco-free status. It also proposes financial support for community-led social initiatives on recognised islands. At the heart of the strategy is a commitment to provide free, specialised treatment for individuals seeking to quit tobacco, with services available at health centres on every inhabited island.
This framework builds upon a series of assertive measures already enacted by the government to reduce tobacco use nationwide. Among these is a ban on the importation of vaping products, which came into effect on 15 November 2024. The administration has also significantly increased duties on both traditional tobacco products and vapes, reinforcing its reliance on fiscal policy as a deterrent.
Legislative reform has deepened the campaign through a landmark generational tobacco ban, which prohibits the sale, purchase, and use of tobacco for all individuals born in the Maldives on or after 1 January 2007. The amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, recently ratified by President Muizzu, extends the prohibition to all future generations born after that date, an unprecedented step in the nation’s public health policy.
Public engagement remains central to the government’s approach, exemplified by the nationwide awareness campaign 'Dhafaraa', which continues to educate citizens on the health risks associated with tobacco use and promote cessation.