Armenia’s parliament today debated a bill that would ban smoking in enclosed public spaces.

The bill, entitled “Reduction and Prevention of Harm caused by the Use of Tobacco Products and their Substitutes" was formally presented to MPs by Deputy Minister of Health Lena Nanushyan.

“In implementing its policy, the government is guided by the principle that public health is a priority and this project is vivid proof of it. Tobacco use is high in Armenia,” the deputy minister said.

Nanushyan pointed out that according to the World Health Organization, 28% of Armenia's population smokes - more than half of adult men and 2-3% of women.

"More than half of those surveyed report that they smoke at home, 21% of women, 32 %of men in the workplace, more than 70% of pregnant women are exposed to secondary smoke every day," Nanushyan said.

According to the deputy minister, if in 2011 there were 1,100 cases of bronchial, lung and respiratory cancer, in 2017 there were 1,900 cases.