Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines, leads the ceremonial handover
of over 315,000 Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patches to the Lung Center of the Philippines
on 25 June 2021. Photo credit: WHO/R Junio
Manila, Philippines – What can over 315,000 pieces of nicotine patches do? In the Philippines, they can improve the health and quality of life of 4,500 high-risk smokers by providing an 8-week supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) without spending a peso, thereby supporting them to quit tobacco use.
On 25 June 2021, the World Health Organization donated Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRTs) Patches to the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) as part of the UN agency’s global Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco.
The donation, valued at over USD 860,000 (around PHP 41 million), will be distributed by LCP and other select hospitals to tobacco users who are 20 to 50 years old with comorbidities and most importantly, are ready to quit. Preference will be given to smokers among the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) population.
Aside from the free nicotine patches, tobacco users will be supported with behavioural counselling by primary care providers.
In 2019, the Philippines had about 15.9 million adult smokers with the highest prevalence among people with low income. Nearly 70% of daily smokers were willing to quit yet did not have access to the tools needed to succeed.
“The addition of the Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches) will be a boost to the Department of Health’s efforts in addressing the negative health impacts caused by tobacco use,” said Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines, during the handover of the NRT Patches to the Department of Health. “This will also supplement ongoing efforts to help tobacco users quit the habit through the introduction of a toll-free Quitline. These initiatives will augment measures of regulation of access to nicotine containing products through legislation and the taxation of nicotine-containing products.”
Calling the DOH Quitline 1558 is now free of charge, whether a patient is calling from Metro Manila or the provinces. The DOH, in partnership with WHO Philippines, also built into its mReady2Quit Facebook page a chatbot that sends prompts to tobacco users weeks before their desired quit date and up to six months after their quit date. These messages are designed to motivate smokers and help them succeed in quitting.
DOH Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo makes a ceremonial call to the DOH Quitline 1558
during the launch of the toll-free service at the Lung Center of the Philippines
on 25 June 2021. Photo credit: WHO/R Junio
These initiatives are particularly important in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence shows that smokers are more likely to develop a severe disease. The risks are particularly higher for those tobacco users with underlying co-morbidities and are over 60 years old. The Philippine government has included tobacco cessation support as part of its National Preparedness and Response Plan to COVID-19 to create smoke-free and healthier environments.
The WHO welcomes the commitment of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) to be actively involved in distributing the NRT patches and in monitoring the outcome of the patches.
Other hospitals participating in the initiative include the National Center for Mental Health, Bataan General Hospital, and Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.
In close collaboration with the Department of Health and WHO in the Philippines, the Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco and its partners will continue to bolster tobacco cessation capacity in the Philippines during and beyond the pandemic.