India has been awarded the prestigious Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in the 'O' category, recognising the country's exceptional efforts in helping people quit tobacco use under the World Health Organization’s MPOWER strategy.
The award which underscores India’s position as a global leader in public health, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented by Michael R. Bloomberg during a ceremony at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, Ireland, on June 23, 2025.
This recognition highlights India's proactive approach to tobacco control, particularly its comprehensive National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), which has provided cessation support to millions of tobacco users across the country.
Alongside India, countries recognized this year include Mauritius (plain packaging), Mexico (advertising bans), Montenegro (tax policy), Philippines (surveillance partnerships), and Ukraine (smoke-free environments), each contributing significantly to WHO’s MPOWER goals.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, lauded India’s achievements, emphasizing the significance of government and civil society action in the face of complex challenges, including industry interference.
“These efforts reflect what’s possible when governments act decisively to protect health. The awardees have not only implemented proven tobacco control measures but have also done so with resilience and dedication,” said Dr. Tedros.
Michael R. Bloomberg also praised the progress made globally in the tobacco control movement, which he described as “one of the most successful public health efforts in history.” He acknowledged India’s role in saving millions of lives and called for continued global collaboration to build on these successes.
India’s tobacco control efforts are anchored in the NTCP, which includes more than 675 tobacco cessation centers across district hospitals. In FY 2023-24, the program facilitated 1.35 million counseling sessions. The National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS), launched in 2016, offers assistance in 16 languages and handles approximately 42,000 calls each month.
Additionally, the mandatory "QUIT TODAY, CALL 1800-11-2356" message on tobacco packaging has contributed to a 30% increase in call volumes.
“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 (NIMHANS), Karnataka 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.”
This global accolades come days after Karnataka’s State Tobacco Control Cell was honoured by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for excellence in tobacco control in the South-East Asia region.
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao received the award from WHO representatives in Bengaluru recently.
In India, tobacco use remains a major public health challenge, claiming 1.3 million lives annually. However, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) shows a notable decline in tobacco consumption, with usage falling from 34.6% in 2009-10 to 28.6% in 2016-17—a 17.3% relative reduction.
