Malé, Maldives — The Ministry of Health has launched a public consultation to assess whether entire island communities should be offered financial incentives if they collectively quit smoking.

The study aims to raise awareness of smoking-related health risks, gather views on tobacco enforcement challenges, and identify gaps in existing control measures. A central feature is gauging public support for a proposed rewards scheme, which would grant benefits to all residents if the community achieves complete tobacco cessation.

Officials say all responses will remain confidential, with findings feeding into national tobacco control policies. The initiative follows President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s directive in June 2025 for ministries to evaluate the proposal and prepare an implementation plan as part of wider efforts to cut smoking rates, especially among youth.

The Maldives has recently intensified its tobacco crackdown. In May 2025, lawmakers approved a generational smoking ban, prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2007. The law takes effect in November, aiming to phase out tobacco use over time.

Other measures include expanding tobacco-free zones, banning the import and possession of e-cigarette and vape manufacturing equipment, raising the legal purchase age to 21, outlawing tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and hiking taxes on tobacco products.

The Ministry said the consultation will help refine these measures and explore new approaches to protect public health.