
Smoking Kills 1.35 Million Indians Annually; Experts Point To Lower Risk Of Nicotine Alternatives
Published on: Sept. 14, 2025, 11:39 a.m. | Source: Daily Excelsior
New Delhi, Sep 14: 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, healthcare 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 stated that for patients with COPD or cardiovascular risks, every cigarette avoided matters. “Scientific review, […]