Amendment to tobacco addiction treatment regulation published in the Official Gazette

In line with the goal of a "Tobacco-Free TURKEY," the Ministry of Health is expanding its service network for tobacco addiction treatment to create a more effective, accessible, and sustainable service model.

With the amendments made to the Regulation on Tobacco Addiction Treatment and Training Units, the effectiveness of many service delivery components is being increased, ranging from the training of healthcare personnel—the most important force in the field for combating tobacco addiction—to the strengthening of primary healthcare services.

Furthermore, the regulations aim to ensure that the fight against tobacco is not limited to treatment alone; the goal is to reintegrate individuals into society in a healthier and more productive manner.

With these regulations, the field strength of primary healthcare services is being increased, making access to smoking cessation services even easier. Smoking Cessation Clinics will now be able to provide services not only in hospitals and Healthy Life Centers but also in Family Health Centers. Family physicians will be able to offer Smoking Cessation Clinic services in their own units after receiving the necessary training. In addition, through regulations targeting regions where smoking cessation services have difficulty reaching, "mobile units" and "on-site temporary units" will be deployed, ensuring equal access to smoking cessation support at the primary care level in every corner of Turkey.

SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING RESTRUCTURED

With the regulation change aimed at improving the quality of smoking cessation services, the operating procedures and workflow charts of Tobacco Addiction Treatment and Training Units are also being restructured. The sections required in these units are being regulated, making physical conditions more practical.

In this way, while it becomes easier to open new units to serve in the field, it also enables the creation of a standard, efficient, and measurable service infrastructure across the country.

Within the scope of the regulation change, refresher training is becoming mandatory through regulations made to keep the knowledge and skills of healthcare personnel up to date. Thus, by providing continuous training support to all healthcare workers, it will be ensured that services are provided in accordance with the most current scientific approaches in tobacco addiction treatment.

News Source: 12punto