Helpline to help you quit tobaccoImage Credit source: Getty Images
Tobacco addiction still remains a major health challenge in India. Quitting it is not easy for many people, but the right advice and constant support can make this journey easier. The National Quit Tobacco Service (NTQLS), started for this purpose, has completed 10 years. According to data released on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2026, this helpline has received around 1 crore calls so far and more than 2.32 lakh people have been successful in quitting tobacco. This service provides free advice and guidance over the phone.
Crores of people in India consume tobacco in some form or the other, due to which cancerThe risk of lung disease, heart disease and many other serious health problems increases. In such a situation, it is very important for people who want to quit tobacco to get help and advice at the right time. National Quit Tobacco Service was started with this objective so that help can be easily reached to the people across the country. In the last decade, this initiative has made a significant contribution in the field of tobacco control by reaching out to millions of people. In such a situation, let us know what achievements this helpline has achieved in the last decade and what role it has played in tobacco control.
What achievements has the National Quit Tobacco Service achieved in 10 years?
National Quit Tobacco Service (NTQLS), launched on 30 May 2016, has made major achievements in the field of tobacco control in the last 10 years. According to the released data, this helpline has received around 1 crore calls so far. During this period, more than 6.75 lakh people registered in this service. Of these, more than 2.32 lakh people were successful in quitting tobacco. At the same time, more than 37 lakh advice and guidance sessions were also organized to help the people.
Dr. Raj Kumar, Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), University of Delhi and Coordinator of National Tobacco Quit Service (NTQLS), Said that this service is providing free and accessible support to people wanting to quit tobacco across the country. There itself Padmashree Dr. Digambar Behera, President, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) and former Dean and Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Called it a successful initiative launched on scientific basis for the health of the people.
How is the helpline helping in quitting tobacco?
The National Quit Tobacco Service (1800-11-2356) provides free advice and guidance over the phone to people wanting to quit tobacco. Under this service, experts talk to people, understand their problems and give necessary advice to quit tobacco. Along with this, regular follow-up is also done, which helps people to continue their efforts.
Dr. Raj Kumar According to, the biggest feature of this helpline is that a person living in any part of the country can get free advice in his own language. There itself Dr. Digambar Behera believes that this phone-based model can reach even those people where tobacco cessation clinics are not available.
How was the impact of this service on the youth and the states?
According to the data, the largest group among those who quit tobacco was in the age group of 18 to 24 years, which includes 91,933 youth. This shows that awareness about quitting tobacco is increasing among the youth. Talking about the states, Uttar Pradesh had the maximum number of registrations at 2.09 lakh, while Rajasthan was included among the other major states with 1.49 lakh registrations.
Experts say that due to easy access, free consultation and constant follow-up, the impact of this service has reached all the states and union territories of the country. This is why the National Quit Tobacco Service is considered one of the most important tobacco control initiatives in India today.
