12.01.2026 16:13
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, who stated that new regulations regarding smoking in enclosed spaces will soon be brought to the agenda of the Parliament, said, "With the approval of our President, we need to make our fight in this regard much more effective."
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu stated that a new era will begin in the fight against tobacco, digital addiction, and unhealthy eating habits, announcing that new legislative regulations regarding smoking in closed areas will soon be brought to the agenda of the Parliament.
REGULATION TO BE IN PARLIAMENT SOON Minister Memişoğlu told AA correspondent that a more effective fight against all kinds of addiction will be carried out in 2026 to instill healthy living habits. He noted that smoking cessation clinics and mobile teams operating in the field will be made more active, stating that legislative work regarding tobacco and smoking use in closed areas is nearing completion and that the regulation will soon be brought to the Parliament's agenda.
Emphasizing that the fight against tobacco is not only an individual but also a societal responsibility, Minister Memişoğlu said, "We are currently working on this. In particular, we are conducting legislative work alongside our smoking cessation clinics related to tobacco and our mobile teams that go out into the field. With this work, we will make the fight against tobacco addiction much more effective. We are doing a good job regarding legislation on tobacco and smoking use in closed areas. God willing, we will bring this to the Parliament's agenda soon. With the approval of our President, we need to make this fight much more effective." he stated.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu "WE NEED TO GIVE UP THESE HABITS" Expressing that digital addiction, tobacco addiction, and eating habits are a type of habit, Memişoğlu said, "We all need to give up these habits together. We need to acquire correct, proper, and healthy habits. To stay away from habits that will harm our health and addiction, we are especially working on good legislative measures regarding tobacco. After we do this, we will announce it to the public." he said.
INSPECTIONS WILL BE INTENSIFIED Minister Memişoğlu stated that a study including inspections is being conducted, saying, "We are involved in a study related to both tobacco and food and sugar, which also includes our Ministry of Agriculture. We will share that with the public soon." he expressed.
"WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A GREAT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN HEALTH" Stating that they are trying to create the "Healthy Turkey Century" policy under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Memişoğlu said, "Its most important motto is health that protects, develops, and produces. In terms of health services, we provide the best health services in the world in Turkey. Especially in the last 24 years, we have experienced a great development process both in infrastructure and systematically under the leadership of our President. This has been proven in both COVID and the earthquake. Internationally, people from 160 countries can come to Turkey to receive health services." he stated.
"WE WANT EVERYONE TO SUPPORT THIS POLICY" Emphasizing that their biggest goal is to create a healthy society, Memişoğlu said, "We are oriented towards a policy aimed at creating this culture and awareness together with society and ensuring that people stay healthy. We aim for everyone to support this policy to give up behaviors or habits that harm their health. We need to set aside tobacco and other habits." he said.
Minister Memişoğlu also noted that in the fight against weight, proper and healthy nutrition, movement, and exercise must be done, stating that they want to achieve this goal with family health centers and healthy living centers.