India has been recognized with the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control for its efforts in promoting tobacco cessation. The award was presented to the National Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the World Conference on Tobacco Control held in Dublin, Ireland.
The country received the ‘O’ category award under the WHO’s MPOWER policy, which focuses on offering help to quit tobacco use. This recognition highlights India’s commitment to implementing effective strategies to reduce tobacco consumption among its population.
India’s initiatives include the establishment of tobacco testing labs, mobile cessation units, and a national toll-free quit line that handles around 50,000 calls monthly. Free cessation services are also available at primary care centers and hospitals across the country, making support accessible to those seeking to quit tobacco.
