Tax on fast foods, tobacco and soft drinks welcomed by Oman's health minister

Muscat: A GCC wide move to tax unhealthy products such as tobacco, fast food, soft drinks has been welcomed by the Minister of Health Dr Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, while on e of his top officials said it must be 'as early as possible'.
The minister was speaking on the sidelines of the GCC Cancer Awareness Week press conference on Sunday, following reports of a dramatic rise in the number of lung cancer patients in Oman.
Last November, the GCC governments agreed to impose a unified tax of 100 per cent on tobacco and related products, according to Kuwait New Agency (KUNA).
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However, Dr Jawad Al Lawati, senior consultant and rapporteur of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the Ministry of Health, said that such taxes have not been implemented yet but must be imposed in Oman as early as possible, especially as cigarette prices here are lower compared to other countries.

Lung cancer, a disease with which 97 per cent of those diagnosed are smokers, is expected to become the most common cancer in Oman in the next five years, said Dr. Basim Al Bahrani, director of oncology and head of medical oncology at the Royal Hospital. Commenting on Oman’s treatment quality, the Minister of Health affirmed that the Sultanate is committed to providing the best quality of medicine to patients, some of which are not even provided in Europe.
Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi added that the impact of oil crisis on Oman’s medical sector is minimal and will not affect its health service quality.
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To curb the spread of tobacco addiction, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection has recently banned electronic cigarettes and electronic shisha (hookah).
“Traders should remove all stock of e-cigarettes and e-hookah from shops in Oman in the interest of safeguarding public health,” said the PACP.
Under the ruling, a fine of OMR500 will be imposed on violators who trade in illegal cigarettes.

*This story has been modified by the orginal which incorrectly stated that the Minister of Health had said the tax must be introduced as early as possible, when in fact it was Dr Jawad Al Lawati, senior consultant and rapporteur of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the Ministry of Health.