The Health Ministry is looking to increase taxes on tobacco as the cost of tobacco-related illness on the economy is about 4.3 times more than the revenue generated by cigarette taxes.
While raising serious concerns about the impact of the use of Tobacco products on people and the economy during the World No Tobacco Day celebration in Levuka, Minister for Health, Doctor Atonio Lalabalavu says tobacco-related illness is estimated to cost the Fijian economy $319 million every year.
He says 18 percent of adults in the country currently use tobacco products while 14 percent of Fijian adolescents aged 13 to 17 years have experimented with tobacco.
Dr Lalabalavu says smoking kills about 1,200 Fijians annually.
The Minister says in December 2024, the Ministry, with organisations like the UNDP and WHO, launched an Investment Case for Tobacco Control.
He says this shows that investing in five key measures could save $32 million in healthcare costs over 15 years.
Dr Lalabalavu says these measures include increasing tobacco taxes, making public spaces smoke-free, implementing plain packaging, banning tobacco advertising and providing quitting support at primary care levels.
He adds the Ministry now has 11 Tobacco-Free Initiatives.
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