1.35 Million Indians Die From Smoking Yearly

New Delhi- Tobacco kills 1.35 million Indians every year, but quit rates remain very low despite widespread awareness.

With India spending more than Rs 1.77 lakh crore annually on tobacco-related diseases, health care experts called for innovative, science-backed harm reduction strategies, including the use of smoke-free nicotine alternatives.

Dr Pawan Gupta, senior consultant, Pulmonary Medicine at BLK-MAX Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi, said that for patients with COPD or cardiovascular risks, every cigarette avoided matters.

“Scientific reviews, including those by the Royal College of Physicians (UK), show that non-combustible nicotine delivery carries significantly lower risks compared to smoking. That evidence cannot be ignored,” Gupta said.

Public Health England (PHE, UK) has estimated that smoke-free nicotine alternatives are up to 95 per cent less harmful than smoking because they remove tar and combustion.

Globally, nicotine pouches have gained traction as discreet oral alternatives to cigarettes. These products are now available in 34 countries, including Sweden, Norway, the United States and Denmark.

Dr Sunaina Soni, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, AIIMS-CAPFIMS Centre, said,“Traditional cessation tools often have limited success in India. Safer, tobacco-free nicotine alternatives, when strictly regulated, could support smokers in moving away from cigarettes.

MENAFN15092025000215011059ID1110060767