Smokers in Saudi Arabia will have to pay an increased premium for their health insurance policies, the country’s health minister, Hamad Al-Manie, said.

The minister has directed insurance companies to categorise between smokers and non-smokers, and to impose an additional premium for smokers as they fall in a high-risk class.
Al-Manie also said his ministry would not entertain any business transactions with tobacco companies in the future.
“We have instructed the purchasing, supplies and maintenance departments in the ministry not to accept quotations for the supply of products and services from such companies,” he added.
Under the new rule, tobacco companies and individuals who are board members of tobacco industry companies will be prohibited from registering as contractors with the ministry of health.
Ibrahim Sulayman Al-Musaidteer, director general of the legal department in the ministry of health, said a set of new rules to combat smoking in the kingdom is being worked out according to the minister's directives. (sra)