The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has also launched a campaign to raise awareness about Law Number 10 of 2016 on the control of tobacco and its derivatives. The law prohibits smoking in closed public spaces and in cars carrying minors, and can lead to a fine of up to QR3,000. The campaign aims to encourage residents to adhere by the tobacco control laws, and to emphasise the penalties for any violations of these laws to business, and promotes the Tobacco Violations Hotline Number (50302001), where the public can call the Tobacco Inspection Team to report violations of the Tobacco Law.
Director of Public Health, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, said, “Smoking is a significant public health concern in Qatar, therefore it is vital that we increase our efforts to combat tobacco use. The National Health Strategy 2018-2022 sets a target of reducing the prevalence of smoking, and achieving this includes enforcement of our law on tobacco control; which is not only designed to reduce tobacco consumption in Qatar, but also to protect non-smokers, such as children, who are exposed to harmful second-hand smoke. The Ministry of Public Health is working with its partners to reduce tobacco consumption in Qatar by 30% by 2022 and identified it as a national target within the National Health Strategy 2018-2022.
Shops that allow indoor tobacco use or the sale of tobacco products to minors can face steep fines and up to three months’ closure. The law also prohibits advertising or promotions of tobacco products, the use of Sweika and other chewing tobacco products, and bans the sales of electronic cigarettes. The authorities should also ensure that indoor smoking in offices is controlled as it endangers the health of even non-smokers who are forced to be passive smokers. Yet another hazard is smoking in open places, especially at the entrances of malls and shopping centres. Smokers hang around the entrances and have their nicotine fix as smoking is prohibited inside. But non-smokers are forced to inhale the smoke as they pass by.
Head of Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Diseases at MoPH, Dr Kholood al-Mutawa had recently stressed that second-hand smoke is a major health risk in particular to children and young people being exposed to it.
“Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals and it is important people are protected from the harms of second hand smoke. Everyone has the right to live in a smoke-free environment away from the harms caused by tobacco and by discouraging smoking in public we can work towards this goal of a healthier nation,” she said. So more action is needed to save non-smokers and inspire smokers to quit.
