The Vice President of the Health and Treatment Commission of the Iranian Parliament criticized the low tobacco consumption tax in Iran, highlighting the daily treatment costs for smokers in the country, which range from 10 to 20 billion tomans. On Wednesday, April 5, in a report by the Parliament News Agency, Mohammad Hossein Ghorbani declared the statistics on tobacco consumption in Iran as 'concerning.' He stated that the Islamic Republic is committed to significantly reducing tobacco consumption annually based on the laws of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and that 'the best component for reducing tobacco consumption is increasing the consumption tax.' Ghorbani expressed regret that Iran collects 'less tax' on tobacco compared to other countries. He noted that 'daily treatment costs for tobacco users are between 10 to 20 billion tomans,' adding that contrary to the Sixth Development Plan, which emphasizes a 10% annual increase in tobacco tax, 'the tax rate was reduced in the public session of the Parliament.' According to this representative, there should be a 10% tax on domestic tobacco products, 20% on joint production, and 25% on foreign brand cigarette production. He had previously criticized the 'influence' of certain individuals in the tobacco company for their efforts to prevent tax collection from cigarette retailers. Ghorbani also called for a reduction in tobacco production in Iran as another legal requirement of the international tobacco control convention and for awareness campaigns regarding the health risks associated with tobacco use. According to Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Secretary-General of the Iranian Tobacco Control Society, unofficial statistics indicate that '5.3 million people in the country consume cigarettes and hookahs.' He added that 'as a result of this consumption, 50,000 people lose their lives annually, either directly or indirectly due to smoking or exposure to its smoke.' According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, there are currently nearly 7.7 million users of various tobacco products in Iran, and 4% of all deaths among those over 30 are attributed to tobacco use.
Daily Treatment Costs for Smokers in Iran Reach 10 to 20 Billion Tomans
The Iranian Parliament's Health Commission Vice President highlighted the significant daily costs of treating smokers, criticizing the low tobacco tax in the country. With millions of smokers and a high mortality rate linked to tobacco use, there are calls for increased taxation and reduced production of tobacco products.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Vice President of the Health Commission criticized the low tobacco tax in Iran, revealing that daily treatment costs for smokers range from 10 to 20 billion tomans. He called for increased taxation and reduced tobacco production to align with international health commitments.
- 5.3 million people in Iran consume cigarettes and hookahs, leading to 50,000 deaths annually.
- The current tobacco tax rates are lower than recommended, with calls for a 10% tax on domestic products and higher rates on foreign brands.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran faces a growing public health crisis due to high rates of tobacco consumption, which is linked to significant mortality and healthcare costs.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%