Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Anbumani Ramadoss will leave for a six-day visit to France and the UK on Wednesday, during which he will hold discussions with his counterparts in the two countries and interact with other officials.

With France recently imposing a ban on smoking in public places, a pet subject of the minister, the issue is expected to be discussed during his visit to that country. The Minister has long been trying to impose a similar ban in India. “This is not in the agenda but since the minister is interested in the subject, the issue will definitely come up,” said a senior official of Health Ministry.

On January 12, the minister will be in London to address the annual conference of British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. They are celebrating the 60th year of National Health Service as well as Indian Independence.