Union Health Minister J P Nadda Inaugurates Tobacco Cessation Centre At AIIMS-Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, along with the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, virtually inaugurated the Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC) at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Nadda highlighted that this initiative underscores the Government of India’s commitment to public health under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This event marks a pivotal step in India’s efforts towards achieving a tobacco-free society, aligned with the launch of the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0. The 60-day campaign aims to raise awareness and drive meaningful changes toward tobacco cessation among the youth of the nation,” the hospital said in a release.

Executive Director, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, Dr. Ashutosh Biswas lauded the Department of Psychiatry for spearheading this initiative. He emphasised the need for expanding such services in collaboration with other departments to ensure holistic management of patients.

He also called for patient awareness campaigns to make TCC services effective.

Head of the Department of Psychiatry Dr. Biswa Ranjan Mishra reiterated the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration for effective tobacco cessation. “The centre will provide a comprehensive approach, integrating pharmacological and psychosocial support to aid patients in overcoming tobacco dependence,” he added.

The fully-functional TCC will be managed by trained psychiatrists and offer specialised treatments for both smoked and chewable forms of tobacco through medications and counselling.

“Given the widespread use of tobacco in India and its association with numerous medical conditions, the TCC at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar is envisioned as a one-stop centre providing multidisciplinary care and support for individuals looking to quit tobacco,” the release added.