Tobacco remains a leading cause of preventable death in India, contributing to an alarming rise in cancers, especially oral cancers. Despite the scale of the problem, many healthcare professionals lack formal training in tobacco cessation strategies. To address this gap, the Tobacco Control and Cessation Certificate Course has been launched by the National Cancer Grid and the Department of Preventive Oncology in partnership with Project ECHO India. This online program is tailored for healthcare professionals, public health workers, educators, and advocates to build critical competencies in tobacco control, counseling, and community engagement.
The Mission
To strengthen the national response to the tobacco epidemic by building the capacity of healthcare providers and public health professionals through evidence-based education and collaborative learning.
The Vision
A healthier India with reduced tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, where every healthcare provider is equipped to counsel, screen, and support tobacco cessation efforts across all levels of care.
Program Objectives
- Enhance awareness of tobacco’s health impacts
- Build clinical capacity to assess and manage tobacco users
- Improve early detection of oral cancers
- Promote the implementation of proven cessation techniques
- Support community-driven tobacco control efforts
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Learn the new emerging patterns of Tobacco Use and Impact on Health
- Equip the health professional with skills for administering evidence-based Interventions (e.g., 5 A’s , 5 Rs , Fagerström Test) for Quitting Tobacco.
- Enhance the health professional's ability to deliver brief interventions and motivational counseling.
- Promote integration of tobacco cessation services into routine health Services at all levels of care
- Learn Targeted High-Risk Community-based approaches for Tobacco Cessation.
- Understanding Provisions under Tobacco Control Legislation and Policy
Course Details
| Course Duration | 3 months |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online via the iECHO platform |
| Frequency | Bi-weekly |
| Session Format | 12 sessions (60–90 minutes each), including expert lectures, case-based discussions, and role-plays |
| Certification | Certificate of Completion (based on attendance, post-test, and assignments) |
| Eligibility | Open to healthcare professionals, public health workers, and educators across the NCG network |
Curriculum Overview
- Magnitude of tobacco problem - Practices, Patterns & Prevalence, Global & India perspective
- Health, Economic, Ecological & Environmental Impact of Tobacco Use
- Pathophysiology of Tobacco Addiction
- Understanding & Overcoming Dependency on Tobacco
- Stages of Tobacco cessation
- Providing Quitting support & Counseling
- Tenets of Behavioral and Pharmacotherapy in Tobacco Cessation
- Requirements for establishing Tobacco Cessation Clinic
- Tobacco Control Legislation/ Policy
- The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
- Surveillance and Evaluation of Tobacco Legislation Implementation
- Information, Education and Communication for Tobacco Control
- Tobacco control in Special Populations and High Risk groups
- Role of Healthcare Professionals in Tobacco Control
- Population based programs for Tobacco Control & Cessation
Faculty Details
Dr. Sharmila Pimple
Professor & Head
Department of Preventive Oncology Centre for Cancer Epidemiology (CCE) Tata Memorial Centre, Parel Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr. Gauravi Mishra
Deputy Director
Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Dept of Preventive Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr. Rajeev Choudhary
Project Coordinator
Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh
Dr. Subita Patil
Prof. & Physician
Dept of Preventive Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr. Rakesh Gupta
President
Rajasthan Cancer Foundation, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Dr. Vandita Pahwa
Assistant Professor
Preventive Oncology, HBCHRC, Mullanpur, Punjab
Dr. Savita Goswami
Clinical Psychologist Psycho-Oncologist
Department of Psycho-Oncology Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr. Dolorosa Fernandes
Assistant Professor
Preventive Oncology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Dr. Parijat Roy
Assistant Professor
Dept of Psychiatry and Drug Deaddiction Centre of Excellence KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Frequently Asked Questions
Doctors, nurses, public health workers, educators, NGO staff, and allied health professionals involved in patient care or community health.
Yes, the course is offered to eligible participants at the cost of Rs. 2000/-*
Yes. Participants who attend sessions, complete the post-test, and submit assignments will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Sessions will be hosted on a secure virtual conferencing platform (Zoom) via the ECHO Platform. Details will be shared post-enrollment.
Via pre-and post-tests, regular assignments, and participation in discussions and case-based learning.
Recordings will be provided on the iECHO platform, but certification requires active participation in all the live sessions.
Applications for the Sep 2025 Cohort
* Fee waiver may be considered only under special circumstances for selected candidates.
For further queries, please write to us on tcc@ncgindia.org