President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has directed the Cabinet to assess the feasibility of providing financial rewards to residents of islands that achieve a complete halt in tobacco use.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Tuesday, the President announced that he has instructed relevant ministers to study the proposal and prepare an implementation paper. According to the President, once approved, the reward would be directly transferred to the bank accounts of all residents of qualifying islands.
The proposed incentive forms part of the administration’s broader strategy to build a healthier, tobacco-free Maldives. President Dr Muizzu reiterated his commitment to tackling major public health challenges, a promise he continues to pursue through new legislation and targeted interventions.
One of the key recent milestones was the ratification of the second amendment to Law No. 15/2010, the Tobacco Control Act, on 21 May 2025. The amendment introduces a generational tobacco ban, which will take effect in November. It prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2007, effectively phasing out tobacco use for future generations.
Additional efforts by the Government include the expansion of tobacco-free zones, a ban on importing and possessing equipment used to produce e-cigarettes and vapes, an increase in the legal age for purchasing tobacco to 21, and stricter restrictions on tobacco advertising and sponsorship. Taxes on tobacco products have also been raised in an effort to reduce consumption.
The World Health Organization recently recognised these efforts by presenting President Dr Muizzu with a special award on this year’s World No Tobacco Day.
