The Ministry of Health has launched a new campaign with the theme "Smoke-Free Türkiye"

According to the statement made by the Ministry, tobacco use, which is one of the most important causes of preventable deaths in Turkey and the world, is the leading cause of many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, COPD , and especially lung cancer.

According to a study conducted by the Ministry in 2023, tobacco product use among the population aged 15 and over in Türkiye was determined to be 34.8 percent.

Every year in Türkiye, approximately 100,000 people lose their lives due to diseases related to tobacco and tobacco products.

The Ministry of Health has determined the "Smoke-Free Turkey" vision to re-accelerate efforts to combat tobacco and tobacco products.

The "Smoke-Free Turkey" vision aims to create a society that encourages individuals to break free from tobacco addiction and adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

To achieve this goal, the Tobacco Control Strategy Document and Action Plan 2024-2028, prepared on the basis of the "Smoke-Free Turkey" vision, was implemented to permanently remove tobacco use and related problems from the country's agenda and to protect society, especially young people.

The number of applications to smoking cessation clinics increased by 85 percent

In Türkiye, services are offered to those who want to quit tobacco products through the ALO 171 Quit Smoking Helpline and smoking cessation clinics.

While there were 62 smoking cessation clinics nationwide in 2009, as of the end of June this year, services were provided in 671 smoking cessation clinics throughout Türkiye.

Medications used in smoking cessation have been provided free of charge to patients deemed suitable by the Ministry of Health since 2011, and this year 72,752 people benefited from these medications free of charge.

On the other hand, the "Quit Smoking, Change Your Life" themed campaign, implemented between May 20 and July 10 to raise awareness about the harms of tobacco use on public health, the environment, the economy and social structure, reached 188,760 people who use tobacco products and directed 168,601 people to smoking cessation clinics.

During the campaign, the number of applications to smoking cessation clinics increased by 85 percent compared to the same period last year.

The Ministry of Health has begun offering "On-Site Smoking Cessation Consultancy Service" to public institutions.

The service, which was first launched in the Bilkent campus of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry , is intended to be expanded to all public institutions.

Remote smoking cessation clinic services are offered to ensure that patients who cannot apply to smoking cessation clinics in health institutions for various reasons can benefit from the service.