Saudi Arabia’s successful Public Health experiment
Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi company Badael has rapidly scaled its harm reduction initiative using its flagship DZRT tobacco-free nicotine pouch. Since its 2023 launch, the program has helped nearly 400,000 smokers move away from combustible tobacco, with 140,000 reportedly quitting nicotine altogether. This progress contributes to Saudi Arabia’s goal to achieve a tobacco-free society by 2030.
The Saudi experiment is built on science, use case from other countries, and regulation, not stigma. By providing safer nicotine options instead of enforcing abstinence, it empowers adults to quit tobacco through choice and support.
As Dr. Saurabh Tomar, Pulmonologist at Aakash Hospital, New Delhi, observed:
“Saudi Arabia’s approach focuses on support and providing choices. By introducing regulated, safer nicotine alternatives, they are giving people real options. This is not about promoting nicotine; it’s about reducing harm and saving lives.”
This evidence-based framework has drawn international attention. Bangladesh has publicly praised the initiative, recognizing that harm reduction complements, rather than replaces, traditional cessation methods. The message is clear, pragmatic, regulated alternatives save lives.
India’s Growing Tobacco Burden
India faces one of the world’s most complex tobacco challenges. With over 100 million smokers and 267 million tobacco users, it is the second-largest consumer of tobacco after China. Despite decades of awareness campaigns and strict controls under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the quit rate remains below 2%, according to national health surveys.
The economic cost exceeds ₹1.7 lakh crore annually, with tobacco-related diseases such as COPD, cancer, and cardiovascular illness continuing to strain the healthcare system. Traditional cessation tools alone are not sufficient to break the cycle of combustible addiction.
According to Dr. Moonish Agarwal, Senior Consultant at Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, New Delhi:
“India’s tobacco crisis demands a balanced regulatory framework that embraces harm reduction, not just restriction. With nicotine pouches showing five-fold higher quit rates when used alongside behavioural therapy, we must integrate them into the NTCP to protect India’s 100 million smokers from needless suffering.”
Global Momentum for Harm Reduction
Across Japan, South Korea, the UK, and now Saudi Arabia, safer nicotine products, including pouches, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes, are helping drive historic declines in smoking. Research consistently shows these alternatives reduce toxicant exposure by 70–90% compared to cigarettes.
Saudi Arabia’s success highlights how even culturally conservative nations can implement science-led harm reduction without compromising values. This combination of policy, regulation, and innovation offers a blueprint for others, particularly high-burden nations like India.
GINN’s Perspective: Policy Integration for a Healthier Future
At GINN, we believe India stands at a pivotal crossroads. Integrating tobacco-free nicotine pouches into the National Tobacco Control Program would align India with global evidence and best practice, helping millions transition away from harmful combustion.
Harm reduction is not a compromise; it is a public health opportunity. By combining regulated access, strict youth safeguards, and science-based education, India can reduce smoking-related mortality while preserving individual choice.
Saudi Arabia’s experience proves that harm reduction is not theoretical — it works.
For India, the path forward is clear: support smokers, not punish them.
📚 References
- Healthcare Radius (2025). “Can India learn from Saudi’s bold tobacco quit strategy?”
- Public Investment Fund (PIF) / Badael: DZRT Tobacco-Free Nicotine Pouch Initiative (2023)
- GINN Commentary on Global Harm Reduction Models (2025)
