A tobacco cessation helpline based in Delhi has assisted more than 2.3 lakh Indians in quitting tobacco and managed nearly one crore calls over the past decade. This initiative has emerged as one of the country's largest counselling-based public health interventions against nicotine addiction.
About the National Tobacco Quitline Services
Operated by Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), University of Delhi, the National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS) has enrolled over 6.8 lakh tobacco users for counselling and follow-up support since its launch by the Union health ministry on May 30, 2016. The service has seen substantial participation from the national capital, with more than 25,000 Delhi residents registering between 2016 and 2026, and 8,047 tobacco users successfully quitting with its support.
Milestone Achievements
The milestone comes as India prepares to observe World No Tobacco Day on May 31. According to programme data, the Quitline received nearly 99.3 lakh calls between May 2016 and April 2026. Of these, over 6.8 lakh tobacco users formally enrolled in the programme, sharing their details and agreeing to receive structured counselling and follow-up support to quit tobacco. The service handled almost 20 lakh inbound calls, made over 46 lakh outbound follow-up calls, and recorded 2,32,870 successful quitters, translating into a quit rate of 34.5%.
Officials stated that registration reflects a higher level of commitment than a routine inquiry, as users voluntarily enrol in the programme to receive repeated counselling sessions and follow-up guidance.
Regional Participation
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of registrations, with 2,09,964 tobacco users enrolling for counselling and support, followed by Rajasthan (1,49,633) and Madhya Pradesh (60,829). Uttar Pradesh also recorded the highest number of successful quitters at 69,683, followed by Rajasthan (56,873) and Madhya Pradesh (21,527).
Demographic Trends
Young adults emerged as the largest group seeking help to quit tobacco. More than 3.1 lakh users aged 18-24 years registered for counselling and cessation support, followed by 2.2 lakh users in the 25-34 age group. Registrations declined steadily with age, suggesting that younger tobacco users are more likely to seek professional help.
Expert Insights
The service was created to provide structured cessation support to millions of tobacco users who may never visit a specialised tobacco cessation clinic because of distance, cost, or lack of awareness. Dr Raj Kumar, Director of VPCI and coordinator of NTQLS, said, "India has 267 million tobacco users and for years there was not a single free, structured support system to help them quit. The Quitline 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."
Public health experts stated that the figures demonstrate the potential of low-cost, technology-based interventions in tackling tobacco addiction at scale. Dr Digambar Behera, Padma Shri awardee and former head of pulmonary medicine at PGIMER Chandigarh, noted that the Quitline created the country's only nationally accessible, professionally staffed cessation support infrastructure. He highlighted that a quit rate of over 34% compared favourably with outcomes reported by several international Quitline programmes.
India records more than 1.4 million tobacco-related deaths annually, yet cessation services remain limited. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, Dr Raj Kumar called for state-level Quitlines, wider integration with public health programmes, and greater awareness about quitting support. "Today we have proof that a national Quitline works. The question now is how quickly we can give it the scale it deserves," he said.
