8% of Deaths in Morocco Attributed to Smoking, Says Minister of Health

Rabat – Smoking is responsible for 8% of all deaths in Morocco, according to recent data presented by the Minister of Health and Social Protection Khalid Ait Taleb.

The statistics come from field research conducted as part of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System, which highlights both the impact of smoking and the challenges of combating it in the country.

The findings reveal a decrease in smoking rates among students aged 13 to 15, dropping from 9% in 2010 to 6% in 2017. Similarly, adult smoking rates fell from 16% in 2008 to 13.4% in 2017. 

Despite these improvements, smoking remains a significant public health issue, particularly among men, with 23.4% of Moroccan men identified as smokers compared to just 0.3% of women, according to the 2018 National Survey on Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases.

The minister emphasized that smoking is a global epidemic and a major preventable cause of death, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where over 80% of tobacco-related deaths occur. 

Smoking is linked to 75% of lung cancer deaths in Morocco and 10% of deaths from respiratory diseases. 

The minister also noted the rising popularity of shisha smoking, which poses additional health risks. 

The minister noted that the government is making efforts to address these issues as part of its National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2019-2029) and the National Cancer Control Plan (2020-2029). 

These strategies include public awareness campaigns, the establishment of tobacco-free zones in public institutions, and the integration of smoking cessation services into healthcare facilities.

Legal measures are also being strengthened. Although a law banning smoking in public places and tobacco advertising was enacted in 1995, the necessary implementing regulations have yet to be issued. 

Ait Taleb said his ministry plans to push for the revision of this law and the introduction of its application decrees as part of its broader effort to curb tobacco use in Morocco.