President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has secured international recognition after being named among the world’s 100 most influential figures in healthcare by the American news magazine TIME, a milestone that places the Maldives at the forefront of global public health reform.
TIME credited Dr Muizzu’s bold leadership in transforming national health policy, highlighting the Maldives as the first country in the world to introduce a “generational tobacco ban.” The landmark legislation prohibits the sale and use of tobacco products for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, a move widely viewed as a long term strategy to eliminate smoking from Maldivian society.
Since assuming office in 2023, President Muizzu has positioned public health as a central pillar of governance. TIME emphasized that beyond the generational ban, his administration enforced a nationwide prohibition on the import and sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, reinforcing efforts to protect youth from nicotine addiction.
While critics have described the measures as tough, the magazine observed that the reforms are matched by expanded support systems. Under the current government, specialized smoking cessation clinics have been established, and a 24 hour mental health helpline was launched to strengthen community wellbeing. These initiatives reflect a broader strategy that combines regulation with rehabilitation and prevention.
The recognition also comes against the backdrop of the Maldives’ earlier historic success in eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B, a public health milestone acknowledged internationally. Health authorities have consistently built on that achievement through sustained vaccination, screening and maternal care programs.
For the Maldives, TIME’s endorsement signals more than personal recognition for President Muizzu. It underscores the country’s growing reputation as a policy innovator in global health, demonstrating how a small island nation can set ambitious standards and influence international discourse on preventive healthcare and tobacco control.
