History of the ‘INCA Smoke-Free Program’ and its Developments within the National Tobacco Control Program: Advances and Challenges of the Care Approach

Abstract

Smoking remains one of the main avoidable causes of cancer on a global scale, being responsible for approximately 22% of deaths from cancer worldwide, as reported by the World Health Organization. Given the urgency to tackle this issue, the National Cancer Institute (INCA) launched its first actions to counter smoking in 1997 by implementing the cigarette-free program, Programa INCA Livre do Cigarro (PIL), initially targeting smoking employees. Currently, this program is known as INCA’s Center for Studies in Treatment for Nicotine Addiction, having adapted the national model to the specificities of oncological patients. The available treatment is based on the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for Treating Smoking, which combines behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy, providing free medications such as nicotine patches and chewing gum, and bupropion, through the Brazilian National Health System. In addition to providing direct assistance, INCA has excelled in training health professionals throughout the country, promoting the dissemination of best practices through courses and educational materials. In this context, this article emphasizes the new challenges that arise, like the use of electronic cigarettes for smoking and inequalities in treatment access, demanding innovative and continuous answers to mitigate the impact of smoking on public health.