Bloomberg Philanthropies Recognizes Governments and NGOs in Six Countries for Exceptional Efforts to Combat Tobacco Use

Government and non-governmental organizations from India, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines, and Ukraine recognized with awards at World Conference on Tobacco Control

Bloomberg Philanthropies launches $20 million Accelerator Fund to continue momentum across the tobacco control movement

Dublin, Ireland – WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the winners of the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control, which celebrate significant strides made in implementing proven measures to curb tobacco use, the world’s leading cause of preventable death. Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were recognized for their achievements in combating tobacco use in the following countries: India, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines, and Ukraine. The announcement was made during the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, Ireland.

“The global tobacco control movement has helped save tens of millions of lives, making it one of the most successful public health efforts in history,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and 108th mayor of New York City. “Bloomberg Philanthropies has long worked closely with the World Health Organization and others who are leading this vitally important work, and the winners of this year’s Awards for Global Tobacco Control prove how much progress is possible. Now, with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new accelerator fund, we look forward to jumpstarting more lifesaving work around the world.”

At the award ceremony, Michael R. Bloomberg also announced a new $20 million Accelerator Fund to help advance progress in countries where tobacco control is stalled. Bloomberg Philanthropies will work with partners to proactively engage governments and NGOs in several low- and middle-income countries that either lack best-practice tobacco control measures or are close to implementing all best-practice measures.

Tobacco use claims over seven million lives a year, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite a global decline in smoking rates from 22.8% in 2007 to 16.4% in 2023, around one billion people worldwide continue to smoke. Tobacco corporations invest billions each year in marketing, often targeting young people who are unaware of smoking’s dangers. Since championing New York City’s Smoke-Free Air Act in 2003, which prohibited smoking in bars and restaurants, Mike Bloomberg has been at the forefront of the global fight against tobacco and has invested $1.6 billion since 2005. The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use is the world’s largest initiative to reduce use and advance tobacco control policies in low- and middle-income countries, where nearly 85% of tobacco-related deaths occur.

Through the Bloomberg Initiative:

• Approximately 820 billion fewer cigarettes were sold in 2024 than in 2012
• 328 strong national tobacco control policies are in place, up from 60 in 2007
• An estimated 35.2 million lives have been saved to date

According to a new World Health Organization report released during the award ceremony, the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2025, significant progress has been made to reduce tobacco use in countries with the highest burden of tobacco consumption over the last two decades. Key strategies include the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the six proven World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER tobacco control measures to reduce tobacco use:

• Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies;
• Protecting people from tobacco smoke with smoke-free air legislation;
• Offering help to quit tobacco use;
• Warning about the dangers of tobacco with pack labels and mass media;
• Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;
• Raising taxes on tobacco

The WHO report found that more than 6.1 billion people—more than three-quarters of the global population—are protected by at least one MPOWER measure, over five times more than in 2007.

The recipients of the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control, who highlight tangible progress in implementing MPOWER measures, are:

• • India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for prioritizing tobacco cessation approaches to reach a significant number of tobacco users in the country. This includes a well-established national toll-free quit line, handling around 50,000 calls per month, and free cessation support services available at select primary care facilities and hospitals.
  • The Ministry of Health and Wellness in Mauritius, for adopting plain packaging in 2023 to reduce tobacco consumption, making it the first African country to implement this measure and setting an impactful precedent for the region, which has prompted surrounding countries to follow their example.
  • The Ministry of Health and Salud Justa Mx in Mexico, for supporting the passage of the 2022 General Law on Tobacco Control, which includes a 100% ban on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products. Their leadership has positioned Mexico as one of the countries with the strictest tobacco regulations globally.
  • The Ministry of Finance in Montenegro, for leading the implementation of a significant tobacco tax increase, despite the tobacco industry’s influence in the region. From 2017 to 2024, the excise tax on cigarettes rose by 73%, and the average cigarette price increased by 24%. According to the latest data available, the prevalence of tobacco use in Montenegro decreased by nearly 7% between 2019 and 2022. Montenegro has committed to further reducing smuggling, increasing taxes, and tightening regulations to strengthen tobacco control.
  • The City of Baguio Government, Philippines, for collaborating with its medical school, establishing a public-private partnership model for ongoing surveillance of tobacco use. The program set a precedent for future national and subnational surveillance action, serving as a blueprint for other local governments to follow to advance both public health and non-health collaborations.
  • Committee on Public Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, for advancing a smoke-free policy to protect residents from tobacco smoke. The policy has maintained strong compliance, with a 2022 study showing 80-85% compliance in five cities.

“The achievements recognized today reflect what’s possible when governments and civil society act decisively to protect health. These awardees have not only implemented proven tobacco control measures; they’ve also done so under complex circumstances including conflict and industry interference,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We commend their leadership, their commitment to evidence-based policies, and their contribution to saving millions of lives. With the launch of the Accelerator Fund, we welcome renewed momentum in the fight against tobacco and the promise it holds for a healthier future.”

“It is with great pride and deep humility that Baguio City accepts this recognition as a Global Tobacco Control Champion. This honor reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting public health through evidence-based policies and strong partnerships,” said Mayor Benjamin Banez Magalong, City Government of Baguio. “Together, we have created a model of community-driven surveillance and education that upholds the right of every citizen to breathe clean air. As we gather with global leaders here in Dublin, we reaffirm our dedication to a tobacco-free future—not just for Baguio, but for every city striving toward health, equity, and sustainable development.”

“The adoption of modern anti-tobacco legislation has helped reduce the number of smokers in Ukraine and protect people from secondhand smoke in public places,” said Chairman Mykhailo Radutsky, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Public Health.

“India has been making consistent efforts to help people quit tobacco through the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP),” said Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director and Senior Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in India. “This includes the establishment of tobacco cessation clinics, screening and intervention in primary care at the Aysushman Arogya Mandirs, and establishing mCessation and National Tobacco Quitlines. These comprehensive efforts indicate India’s commitment to reduce tobacco use and promote public health. It is an absolute honour to receive on behalf of the Indian Government the Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in the ‘O’ category.”

“Let us together make the world free of the death and disease caused by tobacco,” said Sarwansingh Purmessur, Senior Chief Executive of the Mauritius Ministry of Health and Wellness.

“We know this is a global fight. No country can face it alone. This award therefore inspires us to strengthen international cooperation and to share effective experiences and strategies,” said Dr. Ramiro López Elizalde, Undersecretary of Health Policies and Population Welfare at the Ministry of Health.

“Mexico needs to maintain the advancement of its public policies for tobacco control, including accelerating its pace to counter tobacco industry interference, protect public health from conflicts of interest, and deepen the scope of tobacco and nicotine product control,” said Erick Antonio Ochoa, director of Salud Justa Mx. “We are a community of civil organizations and institutions that protect public health. This award goes to them, those who fight every day for a healthier Mexico.”

“Montenegro remains firmly committed to regularly increasing taxes to reduce the affordability of tobacco products while combatting  illicit trade in tobacco products in order to create a healthier, safer, and more prosperous society,” said Montenegro Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control were first hosted in 2009 at the World Health Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai and most recently in 2018, when the Conference was held in Cape Town.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.