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Title: | Economics of tobacco control - Maldives |
Authors: | Prices Afaal, Ahmed Shareef, I. Riaz ޢަހުމަދު އަފްޒަލް އ.ރިއާޒް ޝަރީފް |
Keywords: | Maldives Tobacco Cigarettes Bidi Chewing tobacco Tobacco consumption Health Economics Taxes Import duties Revenues |
Issue Date: | Nov-2003 |
Publisher: | World Bank ވޯލްޑު ބޭންކު |
Citation: | Afaal, A. & I. Riaz, S. (2003). Economics of tobacco control – Maldives. World Bank. |
Series/Report no.: | Economic of tobacco control paper;17 |
Abstract: | Country situation
The Maldives, an archipelago of about 1190 islands, lies in the middle of the Indian
Ocean. The population was 269 010 in 2000. Per capita GDP was estimated at US$ 1279
in 1998, twice as high as the regional average, and has grown at an average of 9% for the
past 25 years.
The Maldives’ social welfare indicators are good compared to most countries with
comparable income levels. Adult literacy rate is close to 100%. Infant mortality had
fallen to 35 per 1000 by 1995, and the crude death rate to 0.5%. Life expectancy at birth
was 72 years in 1998. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancers are the 3
leading cause of death; they are all linked to tobacco use.
Curative and preventive health services are organized into a four-tier system comprising
central, regional, atoll and island levels. Services are provided through both public ad
private sectors.
Tobacco imports and tobacco control
Most tobacco products are imported, import volumes are increasing. Cigarettes account
for 97% of all tobacco products by quantity. There is very little local tobacco
production—just small amounts of bidi and tobacco for hukkah—in the Maldives.
Tobacco smuggling is believed to be negligible. There are no specialist tobacco importers
or retail outlets in the country. Thus no jobs would be lost if tobacco sales were to fall.
Maldivian tobacco control goes back to a 1942 law which banned tobacco product
imports for some years. A 1947 bill that was enforced for a period banned smoking by all
students and Maldivians under the age of 17, and prohibited smoking in public. In 1984,
advertising was banned in government media, and in 1994 a total ban on all forms of
tobacco advertisement and promotion was imposed. Smoking was banned in all health
care facilities in 1993, and in all government buildings and educational institutions in
1994. Islands declaring themselves tobacco-free may qualify for trophies and cash prizes.
In 2000, a large-scale school anti-tobacco programme was initiated by the education
sector for the whole country. One tobacco-free island, Madifushi, runs a quit-smoking
programme that provides accommodation and food for people who come to the island to
quit smoking. This island received a WHO tobacco-free award in 2000.
Prevalence and consumption
A survey conducted in 1997 showed that 57% of males and 29% of females consumed
some form of tobacco, and that smoking prevalence stood at 41%. Prevalence is higher in
the outlying islands. Per capita consumption is highest in the 15 – 49 age groups, an d
averages 14 cigarettes a day for men and 10 a day for women.
xiv
Prices, taxes and government revenue
Prices of cigarettes were relatively stable (in nominal and real terms) from 1997 to 2000.
In 2000, prices rose steeply but then fell to 40% above the earlier price. Until May 2000,
duty on all imported tobacco products was 50% of CIF value. In 2000 the levy for
cigarettes only was changed to 30 laari per cigarette (100 laari = 1 rufiyaa) to reduce
cigarette price differentials and eliminate trade in cheap cigarettes. The overall effect was
positive for revenue and public health: imports dropped and import duty revenues rose by
over 50%. Tobacco duty revenues have fallen as a share of all import revenues from
around 4% to below 2%.
Policy recommendations
There should be an annual increase in tobacco prices. The World Health Organization
recommends an annual 5% increase in the real price of tobacco products. Tax increases
should apply to all tobacco products. The Maldives should consider introducing an ad
valorem excise tax to sustain increased tobacco prices.
Tobacco control measures should be consolidated and a comprehensive tobacco control
law formulated as a foundation for ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control. The National Tobacco Control Committee needs to be revamped to play a more
active role in tobacco control. Surveillance and enforcement need to be enhanced. An
assessment of smoking prevalence in the Maldives should be done every five years, as
part of the existing regular household surveys.
The government should implement a smoking cessation programme.
Information, education and communication programmes need further innovation and
strengthening.
The government should also improve routinely gathered data such as the cancer registry
and lifestyle-related disease statistics so that the smoking-attributed burden of disease can
be better understood. The government should also consider revising death certificates to
include smoking status in order to enhance future research. |
URI: | http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/5903 |
ISBN: | 1-932126-55-4 |
Appears in Collections: | ސިއްޙަތާއި ބޭސްވެރިކަން Health & Medical Sciences A
|
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