Kong cited a recent survey by the Ministry of Healthshowing that there are an estimated 1.6 million adult cigarette smokers, or 13%of the country's adults aged 15 years old and above.
The rate of adult cigarette smokers had dropped by 4%between 2014 and 2022, he said.
It is estimated that Cambodian smokers spent 235million USD a year on cigarettes and tobacco, Kong said, adding that tobaccousers in rural areas were likely to spend more money buying tobacco productsthan those in urban areas.
Kong said if the government increases taxes on tobaccoproducts, it is believed that the death toll from tobacco-related diseases willbe further reduced.
He added that tobacco users are at risk of morbidityand early mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses,and many other tobacco-attributable diseases.
According to a United Nations study, tobacco-relatedillnesses cost Cambodia's economy 657 million USD a year, Kong said./.
