MP for Villimale Constituency Mohamed Ismail says the national health insurance scheme Aasandha should stop covering illnesses induced by smoking and tobacco use.
During the debate over the government-proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, MP Ismail noted that cancer has grown common in the Maldives over the last few years.
The MP said 37 percent of the population are youths and that most of the youths in the country either smoke or vape.
He said that vaping has grown common among young adolescents in schools and children as young as 7 are falling into these habits.
The MP went on to call for halting health insurance coverage for illnesses induced by smoking and tobacco use.
In addition, he noted that smoking is prohibited in some public places and the enforcement agencies are not enforcing the rule as desired.
Alongside banning the importation and use of vaping devices in the country, the Government plans to raise the legal age for trading tobacco and tobacco products to 21, to deter young people from picking up the harmful habit.
The President also noted that the amendments will propose stringent enforcement measures to address violations of the Tobacco Control Act.
