India Gets Global Award at Dublin for Bold Fight Against Tobacco

India Gets Global Award at Dublin for Bold Fight Against Tobacco

WHO Director-General Praises India’s Strong Leadership in Tobacco Control

New Delhi:

India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was honored with the prestigious Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in the ‘O’ category, which recognizes efforts in offering help to quit tobacco use under the World Health Organization’s MPOWER strategy, presented by Michael R. Bloomberg during a ceremony announced late night on June 23, 2025, Dublin time (5.5 hours behind IST), at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, Ireland.

The award celebrates India’s exemplary efforts in providing cessation support to millions of tobacco users. Alongside India, governments and NGOs from Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines, and Ukraine were also recognized for their contributions to curbing tobacco use. This accolade underscores the proactive leadership of the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in positioning India as a global leader in public health.

The World Health Organization’s Director-General commended the awardees’ resilience. “The achievements recognized today reflect what’s possible when governments and civil society act decisively to protect health. These awardees have not only implemented proven tobacco control measures; they’ve also done so under complex circumstances including conflict and industry interference,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We commend their leadership, their commitment to evidence-based policies, and their contribution to saving millions of lives.”

“The global tobacco control movement has helped save tens of millions of lives, making it one of the most successful public health efforts in history,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, who presented the award, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and 108th mayor of New York City. “Bloomberg Philanthropies has long worked closely with the World Health Organization and others who are leading this vitally important work, and the winners of this year’s Awards for Global Tobacco Control prove how much progress is possible.”

India’s recognition highlights the Modi government’s comprehensive approach through the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP). The NTCP has established over 675 tobacco cessation centers across district hospitals, delivering 1.35 million counseling sessions in FY 2023-24. The National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS), launched in 2016, supports 16 Indian languages with around 100 counselors, handling 42,000 calls monthly. The mandatory display of “QUIT TODAY, CALL 1800-11-2356” on tobacco packs, per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, has boosted call volumes by over 30%.

“India has been making consistent efforts to help people quit tobacco through the National Tobacco Control Programme,” said Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director and Senior Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in India. “This includes the establishment of tobacco cessation clinics, screening and intervention in primary care at the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and establishing mCessation and National Tobacco Quitlines.”

Dr. Murthy added, “These comprehensive efforts indicate India’s commitment to reduce tobacco use and promote public health. It is an absolute honour to receive on behalf of the Indian Government the Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in the ‘O’ category.”

India’s leadership includes banning e-cigarettes under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, setting a global standard, and mandating anti-tobacco warnings on OTT streaming platforms to protect youth. These measures have solidified India’s role as a trailblazer in tobacco control.

Other award recipients include Mauritius for plain packaging, Mexico for its advertising ban, Montenegro for tax increases, the Philippines for surveillance partnerships, and Ukraine for smoke-free policies, all advancing the WHO’s MPOWER measures.

During the ceremony, Michael R. Bloomberg announced a $20 million initiative to advance tobacco control in low- and middle-income countries, supporting governments and NGOs and bolstering India’s NTCP efforts. This builds on the Bloomberg Initiative’s success, saving 35.2 million lives and reducing cigarette sales by 820 billion since 2012.

Tobacco use claims 1.3 million lives annually in India, or 3,500 daily. Yet, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) reports a 6% decline in tobacco use from 34.6% (2009-10) to 28.6% (2016-17), a 17.3% relative reduction. Integration with the National TB Elimination Program and over 300 cessation centers in medical and dental colleges reflect India’s holistic approach.

The Modi government’s commitment includes the 2024 Health Workers Guidelines for cessation advice and the National Resource Centre for Oral Health and Tobacco Cessation, established in 2020, to strengthen public health systems.

This Dublin recognition reaffirms India’s dedication to a tobacco-free future, inspiring global efforts through evidence-based policies and innovative interventions.

Why India Earned the Global Tobacco Control Award

• NTCP Achievements: Over 675 cessation centers provided 1.35 million counseling sessions in FY 2023-24.
• Quitline Impact: Supports 16 languages, handling 42,000 calls monthly, boosted by COTPA 2003 mandates.
• Innovative Policies: Banned e-cigarettes (PECA 2019); pioneered OTT platform anti-tobacco warnings.
• TB-Tobacco Integration: Unique framework integrates cessation with TB elimination efforts.
• Impact: Tobacco use dropped 6% from 2009-10 to 2016-17, per GATS.