Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) yesterday said the tobacco health and welfare surcharge would be increased from NT$10 to NT$20 per pack on June 1.
The new surcharge means the average price of a pack of cigarettes will rise by between NT$10 and NT$15.
“The most significant thing about this increased surcharge is that we will use 4 percent of the surcharge to help poor people pay their National Health Insurance [NHI] premiums,” Yeh told a press conference at the health department yesterday afternoon.
He said the 4 percent was expected to amount to between NT$1.4 billion (US$42 million) and NT$1.5 billion.
As an example, Yeh said that those in Taipei whose monthly income was less than NT$17,655 would qualify for aid from the surcharge which would cover 50 percent of their monthly NHI premiums. For those whose monthly income is between NT$17,655 and NT$26,483, 25 percent would be covered.
Yeh said the Cabinet has requested law enforcement bodies to crack down on the expected increase in smuggling.
In related news, the John Tung Foundation yesterday made public a list of locations where there have been the most complaints against smokers breaking the smoking ban.
Under the terms of the ban, which took effect on Jan. 11, smoking is not allowed on public transport or in the indoor areas of most public premises.
More than 72 percent of complaints were filed at offices, Internet cafes, billiard halls, public bathrooms, restaurants, hospitals, KTVs and government offices, the foundation said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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