DTMT Network
Mumbai’s Asian Cancer Institute and Asian Cancer Foundation, in association with Hopscotch Health, have launched The ‘Tobacco Minus’, one-of-its-kind program that guides patients to quit tobacco with the help of a smartphone app. The tailor-made program consists of monitoring via a smartphone app, consultations, and counseling sessions.

Mr Varun Deshpande, Director at Hopscotch Health, said, “The ‘Tobacco Minus’ program is a six-week quit plan, that will guide a tobacco user towards quitting tobacco through in-person consultations with psycho-oncologist and a smartphone app that monitors the user's craving and moods.”

“The app can perform daily check-ins; provide daily inspiration or information on coping strategies, and request information from the user to personalize their experience further. The user can notify the app if they’re feeling a craving, in order to receive a mitigation strategy based on established coping strategies,” he added.

According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year. Over 7 million deaths are a result of direct consumption, whereas 1.2million are the result of passive smoking.

“The app has been designed using insights from the forefront of behavior change and technology development. It is a testament to the power of technology to help people lead healthy lives, more effortlessly. We’re proud to partner with ACI Cumballa Hill Hospital to reduce the burden of tobacco-related deaths, and improve the quality of life of the patients,” said Mr Deshpande.

Dr Ramakant Deshpande, Onco Surgeon and Chairman of Asian Cancer Institute, said, “It is the need of the hour to help people overcome tobacco addiction via cessation programs. Tobacco dependency invites a plethora of health problems such as lung and oral cancer, tooth and gum diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, heart disease, oral infections, bronchitis, and even gastrointestinal issues.”