Chandigarh, May 27
Resource Centre for Tobacco Control (RCTC), Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, in collaboration with Vital Strategies, successfully organized the 6th National Summit on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2026 today under the theme: “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.” The national summit brought together leading policymakers, public health experts, researchers, clinicians, youth advocates, and international tobacco control leaders to deliberate on the growing challenges posed by tobacco and nicotine addiction, particularly among youth and vulnerable populations.
The summit featured keynote addresses, release of important tobacco control resources, and high-level panel discussions focusing on global tobacco control policies, the continued appeal of tobacco and nicotine products in India, and India’s tobacco control priorities for 2030. The event witnessed overwhelming participation from 600+ participants representing 29 states across India and delegates from more than 12 countries, making it one of the largest national tobacco control platforms in the country.
More than 40 renowned national and international experts from organizations including WHO, Johns Hopkins University, Flinders University, University of California San Francisco, Vital Strategies, Tata Memorial Centre, ICMR institutions, and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare participated in the summit.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) Sonu Goel, Chief Organiser & President, RCTC and Professor at PGIMER Chandigarh, highlighted the urgent need for stronger public health action against emerging nicotine products and misleading promotional strategies targeting youth. “The tobacco industry continues to reinvent its strategies through flavored products, digital marketing, and deceptive messaging aimed at young people. Collective action and stronger importance of laws are essential to counter this growing challenge,” he said.
Dr. L. Swasticharan, Deputy Director General and Director (EMR), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India,* emphasized the importance of coordinated national efforts in tobacco control. “Tobacco and nicotine addiction continue to pose serious threats to India’s health and economic productivity. Evidence-based policies, inter-sectoral collaboration, and public awareness are key to protecting future generations,” he stated. He further noted: “Every fifth adult in India uses smokeless tobacco. The tobacco industry glamorizes these products and, through nearly 16,000 unique flavours, attempts to increase their appeal while downplaying their toxicity.”
Renowned tobacco control expert Dr. P. C. Gupta, Director, Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Navi Mumbai, stressed the need for stricter implementation and vigilance. “India has made significant progress in tobacco control, but new-age nicotine products and continued industry interference demand stronger implementation and sustained public health advocacy,” he remarked. He further added: “The industry survives because of the appeal and deception it has created. Peer-reviewed data show that adolescents today often know more about these products than adults.”
International experts including Dr. Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, Managing Attorney, ASH (Action on Smoking & Health); Dr. Ashish Pandey, Director, Tobacco Control SEA & EMRO, Vital Strategies; Dr. Marita Hefler, Professor and Matthew Flinders Professor, School of Public Health, Flinders University; Dr. Rana J Singh, Director – Tobacco Control, Southeast Asia, Vital Strategies; Chris Bostic, Former Policy Director, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH); Prof. (Dr.) Richard Edwards, Chief Investigator, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame and Head of Public Health, Flinders University, Australia; Dr. Cheah Nuan Ping, Head of WHO Collaborating Centre on Tobacco Testing and Research, Singapore; and Les Hagen, Executive Director, ASH Canada, highlighted the growing global concern over nicotine addiction and aggressive tobacco industry tactics. The experts collectively emphasized that “the normalization of nicotine use through sophisticated marketing strategies is a serious global concern. Governments and civil society must act decisively to prevent another generation from becoming addicted.” They further stressed that “as public servants, we must counter the short-term gains associated with tobacco products and address the long-term harm they cause.”
The summit concluded with a collective call for stronger tobacco control policies, enhanced youth engagement, stricter enforcement mechanisms, and intensified public awareness campaigns to achieve a tobacco-free future.
The organizers also acknowledged the active participation of academic institutions, healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, students, media professionals, and policymakers from across India and abroad.
