New Delhi

India's National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS) has received nearly one crore calls and has helped more than 2.32 lakh people quit over the last 10 years, according to data released on the eve of World No Tobacco Day.

Young adults aged 18-24 years accounted for the largest number of quitters, with 91,933 people giving up tobacco.

The Union health ministry launched the toll-free quitline (1800-11-2356) on May 30, 2016 and is anchored at the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), University of Delhi.

Data released by the NTQLS showed that between May 2016 and April 2026, the counselling services for quitting tobacco received 99.31 lakh calls on its interactive voice response (IVR) system, handled 19.92 lakh inbound calls and made 46.88 lakh outbound calls.

During the period, 6.75 lakh tobacco users registered with the service and 2,32,870 successfully quit tobacco -- a 34.46 per cent "quit rate". More than 37 lakh counselling sessions were conducted.

"India has 267 million tobacco users, the second largest population of tobacco users in the world, and for years, there was not a single free, structured support system to help them quit. The quitline did not just provide a service," said Dr Raj Kumar, Director of VPCI and coordinator of the NTQLS.

"It gave every Indian who wanted to quit the dignity of a free call that would be answered by a trained professional, regardless of where they were, what language they spoke, or how much money they had," he said.

According to the data, registrations crossed one lakh for the first time in 2021, with 1,28,809 registered users. Counselling sessions have exceeded five lakh annually since then.

Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of registrations at 2,09,964 and also the highest number of successful quitters at 69,683.

Dr Digambar Behera, President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), said, "The NTQLS is evidence-based public health at scale. What Dr Raj Kumar and his team have built at VPCI is the only nationally accessible, professionally staffed, free cessation support infrastructure this country has."

"A 34 per cent overall quit rate across nearly seven lakh registrations is a result that compares favourably with the best quitline outcomes internationally, and it has been achieved in one of the world's most challenging tobacco landscapes," said Behera.

Calling the quitline model one of the most cost-effective tobacco cessation interventions, pulmonologist Dr AK Janmeja said the NTQLS experience demonstrated that professionally managed and accessible quitlines could reach populations beyond the scope of conventional clinics.

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Kumar called for dedicated state-level quitlines, training in medical and nursing colleges, and integration of the NTQLS infrastructure with the Ayushman Bharat programme to expand its reach across the country.

This year's theme for World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31 is: "Unmasking the appeal -- countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.