Ministry of Health to ban smoking

Ministry Health intend to ban smoking in public places and during public meetings.

The Ministry submitted the suggestion to the commission of social labor affairs of the Parliament. The commission considers introducing a bill concerning sale, advertising and consumption of tobacco products.

According to Gita Rutinya, deputy director of the public health department of the Ministry of Health, those suggestions prepared by the Ministry intend to ban smoking completely in all educational institutions, except for institutes of higher education where smoking is allowed only in areas equipped with air conditioning and fire-extinguishing means.

It is planned to ban smoking in all health and social care institutions. Smoking in front of the governmental and municipal buildings would be prohibited as well as smoking within 10 meter-distance away from these buildings. It would also be unacceptable to smoke in offices as well as in facilities of public usage, except for specifically assigned places.

People would be allowed to smoke in cafes, bars, restaurants and clubs but only in specially designated areas. The Ministry of Health also plans to ban smoking near stairways of  apartment buildings and on bus stops. Existing limitations on smoking in public transport will also be introduced for taxis. And it will also be prohibited to smoke while driving.