Archive · 13 Nov 2025
India Could Save 8 Million Lives with Harm Reduction Strategies by 2060
Imagine smoking is like a big, dangerous game that hurts many people.
A new report says we have new ways to play this game safer.
If people who smoke switch to less harmful options or get better help to quit, we could save millions of lives.
In India, where many people smoke, this could mean saving about 8 million lives by the year 2060!
The report suggests that old rules for stopping smoking need updating to include these new, safer choices.
It's like having different tools to help people stop getting hurt.
This is important because millions of people die from smoking every year, and we now have more ways to help them.
The report encourages leaders to use these new tools, along with old methods, to make people healthier and save lives.
It’s about being smart and using science to help people live longer.
A new global report suggests innovative approaches like tobacco harm reduction could save over 100 million lives worldwide by 2060.
India could potentially save approximately 8 million lives by 2060 by adopting these harm reduction strategies.
The report, 'Lives Saved: Saving 100 Million Lives by 2060,' was authored by public health leaders including Dr. Derek Yach and Dr. Delon Human.
Authors advocate for integrating harm reduction and risk-proportionate regulation, distinguishing between combustible tobacco and lower-risk products.
Strengthening cessation programs, early disease detection, and fiscal policies that reflect product risks are also recommended.
- Who
- Public health leaders, including Dr. Derek Yach and Dr. Delon Human
- What
- Released a report detailing how tobacco harm reduction and other innovations could save millions of lives globally and in India.
- When
- Ahead of WHO COP11
- Where
- Global, with specific focus on India
- Why
- To advocate for the adoption of innovative, science-based approaches including tobacco harm reduction to reduce smoking-related mortality.
Advocating for Harm Reduction and Innovation
Focus on Traditional Tobacco Control
Pace of WHO FCTC
Advocating for Harm Reduction and Innovation
The WHO's FCTC has not kept pace with scientific and technological advancements and its emphasis on bans without risk distinction is outdated.
Focus on Traditional Tobacco Control
Implicitly favors continued strict regulation and bans as the primary approach.
Role of Safer Alternatives
Advocating for Harm Reduction and Innovation
Safer alternatives should be recognized as legitimate tools for reducing harm and integrated into tobacco control frameworks with risk-proportionate regulation.
Focus on Traditional Tobacco Control
The report suggests that policymakers should not remain entrenched in old battles, implying a need to move beyond traditional approaches exclusively.
Policy Approach
Advocating for Harm Reduction and Innovation
Urges a 'reset' of tobacco policy, embracing innovation and harm reduction, with fiscal policies reflecting relative risks (higher taxes on cigarettes, lower on reduced-risk alternatives).
Focus on Traditional Tobacco Control
Stresses strengthening existing measures like cessation programs, early disease detection, and lung cancer screening, alongside traditional tobacco control.
- Global Annual Smoking Deaths
- Over 8 million
- Global Smokers
- Over 1.1 billion
- Potential Lives Saved Globally by 2060
- Over 100 million
- Potential Lives Saved in India by 2060
- Approximately 8 million
- India's Adult Smoker Prevalence Rate
- 21.8%
- Report Title
- Lives Saved: Saving 100 Million Lives by 2060
- Report Project Leader
- Dr. Derek Yach