The Maldives Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to take stronger measures to protect public health, including a complete ban on shisha and an increase in taxes on sugary drinks.
In a statement issued today, the association welcomed the government’s ongoing efforts to curb tobacco use, describing such policies as “an important investment in safeguarding the health of future generations and advancing the vision of a healthy nation.”
The MMA outlined a five-year roadmap for tobacco control, recommending:
- Full implementation of existing tobacco laws and regulations, with adequate staff for enforcement
- Stronger public awareness campaigns
- A ban on flavored tobacco products
- A complete ban on shisha in the Maldives
- Smoke-free dining environments to be promoted as family-friendly spaces
Alongside tobacco control, the association called for new initiatives to reduce non-communicable diseases. These include:
- Introducing “traffic light” style nutritional labels to help consumers make healthier choices
- Increasing taxes on sugary drinks, palm oil, trans fat–rich foods, processed meats, and other harmful products
- Offering fiscal incentives to encourage the sale of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods
- Mandating graphic warnings on chewing tobacco to highlight oral cancer risks
- Strengthening national drug control, rehabilitation, and harm-reduction efforts
The MMA urged the government to “expedite the implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective interventions” to reduce the burden of tobacco use and non-communicable diseases. Such action, it said, would contribute to a healthier, more productive, and prosperous Maldives.
The association also acknowledged recent policy steps, including the nationwide ban on vapes, the higher age restriction for purchasing tobacco, the expansion of cessation clinic services, and the prohibition of tobacco advertising.
