President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has urged the government to explore financial incentives for residents of islands that achieve complete tobacco abstinence, as part of the administration’s expanding public health agenda.
In a social media statement issued today, the President revealed that during last Sunday’s cabinet meeting he directed relevant ministers to conduct a feasibility study on depositing financial benefits directly into bank accounts of individuals living on tobacco-free islands. The move aims to foster healthier, smoke-free communities across the nation.
The proposal forms one facet of a broader tobacco control strategy spearheaded by the Muizzu administration. Since December 2024, the Maldives has enforced a sweeping ban on the import, use, and sale of vaping devices and e‑cigarettes. Penalties include substantial fines—importers face up to USD 3,242 per device, while individual users can be fined approximately MVR 5,000 for possession or use.
Furthermore, President Muizzu’s government has increased import duties on traditional cigarettes, banned tobacco products lacking warning labels, and raised the legal purchase age from 18 to 21 . On 21 May 2025, Parliament ratified a historic generational ban that prohibits anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 from ever purchasing tobacco.
These measures have garnered international acclaim. In May, President Muizzu received the WHO’s World No‑Tobacco Day Special Recognition Award, with Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commending his “exemplary leadership” and the Maldives’ innovative approach to tobacco regulation.
Health experts and child advocacy groups have welcomed the new incentive plan as a pioneering step towards building tobacco‑free communities. However, details such as eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, and the value of potential benefits remain under consideration by the assigned ministers.
As the study progresses, the public awaits clarity on the scope, expected timelines, and integration with existing cessation programmes—offered free at health facilities nationwide—and broader anti‑tobacco initiatives.
