Smokers banned from medical universities in Belarus

The Belarus government is expected to approve by the end of 2007 a national program against smoking. The program will not only ban smoking in public areas and will also introduce education and employment restrictions for smokers. "We will recommend employment restrictions for some jobs as well as denial to enroll with medical schools. Why do we need a potential violator of our internal measures to study and promote the opposite?Apparently, it will not be a ban but a restriction", said Yury Fiodaraw, the chieaf doctor of the National Center for Hygiena, Epidemiology and Public Health.

Polsters suggest that over 63 percent of the Belarusians back more rigid measures against smokers, reports the First Channel.