India’s Health Ministry has been honoured with the prestigious Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in the ‘O’ category, recognising its significant progress in implementing WHO-backed tobacco control measures.
The award was presented on June 23 by Michael R. Bloomberg during a ceremony at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, Ireland.
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“The achievements recognised today reflect what’s possible when governments and civil society act decisively to protect health,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “These awardees have not only implemented proven tobacco control measures; they’ve also done so under complex circumstances, including conflict and industry interference.”
India’s efforts through its National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) were highlighted at the event. Over 675 tobacco cessation centres have been set up at district hospitals nationwide, providing 1.35 million counselling sessions during the financial year 2023-24.
Additionally, the National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS), launched in 2016, now operates in 16 Indian languages with approximately 100 counsellors handling around 42,000 calls per month. The mandated display of “QUIT TODAY, CALL 1800-11-2356” on tobacco packs, under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, has resulted in a 30% increase in quitline call volumes.
India has also taken strong policy actions, including the ban on e-cigarettes under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, and the requirement of anti-tobacco warnings on OTT streaming platforms.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control were first introduced in 2009 at the World Health Conference on Tobacco for Health held in Mumbai.
