The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has urged all smokers and consumers of tobacco products, whether conventional or electronic, to stop using them.

As per the World Health Organization, people who smoke are more prone to have serious health consequences if infected with COVID-19.

MoHAP made those comments on World No Tobacco Day 2021, which had been held on May 31, emphasizing the significance of redoubling worldwide efforts to create worldwide awareness about the negative consequences of tobacco usage.

This comprises heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and psychological disorders.

Add to it the financial burden, which includes both direct expenses such as increased healthcare expenditures and indirect expenses such as decreased community production owing to premature deaths and illness recurrence.

"The UAE has taken the responsibility to support international efforts being developed and implemented by joining the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), whilst also regionally about 12 government entities joined forces and established a national tobacco control commission," the ministry added.

The commission is tasked with developing tobacco control laws, rules, and systems in line with the national index targeted at decreasing tobacco usage to 15.7 % by 2021."

The UAE has also implemented a 50-75 % selective tax on tobacco and its substitutes, resulting in an increase in tobacco product prices and a decrease in customer demand.

The smoking ratio among men and women has reached 9.1 %, according to the National Health Survey 2017-2018, indicating the good impact of relevant national programs.

The ministry has undertaken several programs and activities to raise awareness about the risks of smoking and to urge smokers to stop. This involves establishing a system of 16 smoking cessation clinics at primary health care facilities, with plans to increase, and the mobile smoking cessation clinic and other efforts.

The Health Ministry has formed efficient collaborations with numerous government and corporate sectors to put the provisions of the Tobacco Control Law into action. Through the "Maharti System," the ministry has also established a guideline and an integrated training program to improve physicians' capacities and skills in providing smoking cessation therapies and to standardize tasks under globally accepted treatment procedures.