Ministry calls for smoking cessation hotline

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Health (MOH) has called for a hotline to be set up to provide professional consultation in smoking cessation.

It is one of a range of smoking control measures proposed in a circular issued by the MOH on Monday, as China prepares for the 25th World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31.

Qualified health institutions should also open up specialist smoking cessation outpatient departments, the circular said.

In it, the ministry adds that health institutions at all levels should carry out training for medical workers in smoking control.

Moreover, the ministry urged health institutions to strengthen supervision of smoking bans on their premises, targeting a total ban on smoking at all such sites.

The ministry encouraged all relevant departments, social organizations, companies and institutions to take an active position in smoking control in order to establish no-smoking public places both indoor and outdoor.

China will establish further regulation of smoking control in public places in accordance with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the ministry said.