QATAR
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health has announced that it is working with partners to reduce tobacco consumption in the country by 30% in four years, identifying it as a national target within the National Health Strategy 2018-2022.
Dr. Ahmed Mohamed al-Mulla, head of the HMC Tobacco Control Center, said that the ministry and health sector institutions are working on adopting a number of important initiatives aimed at encouraging people to stop smoking. He also said that they are keen to enhance the use of smoking cessation services.
The ministry, in cooperation with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), is implementing a national campaign to encourage people to abide by the Tobacco Control Law, and to guide people to useful ways to quit.
Dr. Kholoud al-Mutawa, head of the ministry’s non-communicable diseases section, said work is continuing within the national campaign to reduce the effects of smoking and the consumption of tobacco products. Implementation will be in two phases, the first phase targeting Qatar youth to encourage them to abstain from smoking while the final phase of the campaign aims to guide people to useful ways to quit smoking.
Dr. al-Mutawa also confirmed that a national committee has been established to decide on requests for permits to license shops for consumption of tobacco and shisha.