President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has been named among TIME magazine’s TIME100 Most Influential People in Health 2026, recognising his government’s efforts to strengthen public health in the Maldives.
TIME noted that the Maldives became the first country in the world to introduce a generational smoking ban under President Muizzu’s leadership. The policy prevents the sale or purchase of tobacco products by individuals born after January 2007, marking a major step towards eliminating smoking nationwide.
The recognition also cited the government’s 2024 ban on the import, sale, and use of vapes and e-cigarettes as part of a broader strategy to reduce tobacco and nicotine use. To support this initiative, free tobacco cessation clinics were established on every inhabited island, alongside the launch of a 24-hour mental health helpline to improve access to psychological support.
TIME further acknowledged the Maldives’ achievement in becoming the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, highlighting the country’s progress in maternal and child health under the current administration.
President Muizzu’s inclusion in the TIME100 Health list reflects international recognition of the Maldives’ leadership in preventive healthcare and public health policy.
