Egyptian Health and Population Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar has issued a decree prohibiting smoking inside medical institutions, the ministry said Tuesday.
"Health and Population Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar issued a decree permanently banning smoking in all its forms in various health facilities, regardless of whether they provide treatment, preventive or rehabilitative services," the ministry said in a statement.
The decree also banned smoking in all institutions of the ministry and subordinate organizations and facilities, the statement read.
Those violating the ban will be fined 50 to 100 Egyptian pounds ($1.6 to $3.2), and the heads of institutions and organizations will have to ensure that the ban persists; otherwise they will be fined 1,000 to 20,000 Egyptian pounds, the ministry said.