A New Step in Combating Tobacco Addiction
As part of its efforts to fight tobacco addiction, the Ministry of Health has taken an important step.
According to the amendment published in the Official Gazette, Family Health Centers will now be authorized to provide smoking cessation services.
Under the new regulation, FHCs that have the necessary equipment and trained staff will be able to offer these services as “smoking cessation clinics,” with the approval of Provincial Health Directorates.
This initiative aims to expand access to smoking cessation services and make them more easily available to the public.
As a result, counseling and treatment services for quitting smoking will no longer be limited to large hospitals but will also be offered at the neighborhood level.
From Request to Approval: A New Process for Family Physicians
The new regulation explicitly allows the establishment of smoking cessation units within family medicine practices.
It states:
“In family medicine units, a smoking cessation unit may be established upon the request of the relevant family physician and with the approval of the provincial directorate, in accordance with the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.”
With this provision, each Family Health Center will have the flexibility to set up a tobacco addiction treatment unit based on its own conditions.
This is expected to increase access to smoking cessation services, particularly for individuals living in rural areas or neighborhoods far from city centers.
These new units will provide counseling, medication therapy, and follow-up services, helping individuals achieve more sustainable results by offering both physical and psychological support.
Introducing Mobile and On-Site Smoking Cessation Units
Another key innovation in the regulation is the introduction of mobile smoking cessation units.
Tobacco addiction treatment will no longer be limited to traditional healthcare facilities.
With the new rules, temporary “on-site smoking cessation units” can now be set up in mobile vehicles, institutions, organizations, squares, and parks open to the public.
This initiative will make it easier for people in both urban and rural areas to access smoking cessation support.
Through these mobile units, individuals seeking counseling will be able to receive assistance quickly, without the need for hospital appointments.
Qualified Personnel and Mandatory Training Updates
The regulation not only introduces new service units but also strengthens the qualifications of healthcare professionals working in this field.
Accordingly, healthcare personnel involved in tobacco addiction treatment must undergo refresher training every three years.
Those who fail to score at least 70 points in these training programs will have their certification temporarily suspended.
This measure aims to ensure that smoking cessation services are delivered according to current scientific standards and that the quality of counseling provided to citizens is standardized nationwide.
A Critical Step for Public Health
Tobacco addiction remains one of the leading preventable causes of death in Türkiye.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use kills over 8 million people globally each year, and around 100,000 deaths annually in Türkiye are attributed to tobacco-related diseases.
Expanding access to smoking cessation services is therefore of great importance for public health.
Including Family Health Centers in this process enables both early intervention and a community-based approach to tobacco control.
Additionally, with the introduction of mobile and on-site units, individuals who wish to quit smoking will be able to access support faster and more conveniently.
A New Opportunity for Physiotherapists: The Importance of a Multidisciplinary Approach
Tobacco addiction is not merely a behavioral issue—it directly affects the respiratory, circulatory, and musculoskeletal systems.
For this reason, the new regulation also presents an important opportunity for physiotherapists.
Physiotherapy can play a crucial role in addressing issues such as impaired lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reduced exercise capacity caused by smoking.
By involving physiotherapists in smoking cessation units within FHCs—to provide respiratory exercises, counseling, and lifestyle education—the effectiveness of treatment can be significantly improved.
Conclusion: A Community-Based Model for Tobacco Control
The new regulation published by the Ministry of Health marks a significant shift in Türkiye’s tobacco control policies.
By expanding smoking cessation services to Family Health Centers and mobile units, the country is moving toward a community-based, accessible, and preventive model of care.
This initiative is expected to increase the effectiveness of tobacco control efforts and contribute positively to public health in the long term.
