KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s anti-smoking drive is set to pick up pace with Artificial Intelligence (AI) powering up to get more to kick the habit.
Under the Cik Era ChatBot programme, smokers and vapers can access a 24-hour chatbot service before they are referred to trained smoking cessation service providers.
The service is run under the ministry’s JomQuit portal, which offers resources and support to help people quit smoking.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who launched the ChatBot service here yesterday, said the effort was the result of a collaboration between professional bodies, NGOs and the private sector to help the nation overcome the scourge of smoking.
This was in line with the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) and its regulations and orders, which came into effect on Oct 1.
“Act 852 is not purely punitive – instead, it provides opportunities and support for smokers to quit. Hopefully, with the integration of AI, we will help more smokers quit the habit.
“We have strategic partners from the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, among others,” he told reporters after launching the Cik Era ChatBot programme at the Prince Court Medical Centre.
Dzulkefly said there was much hope for the government’s anti-smoking drive with over 17,000 smokers kicking the habit since joining the ministry’s smoking cessation services programme, mQuit, in 2019.
He said the 17,644 were among 33,605 smokers who enlisted to get rid of their nicotine addiction.
“From 2021 to 2023, 54.7% of these smokers were able to do so. This is a successful rate,” he said.
The mQuit programme is a collaborative effort between the ministry, Malaysian Academy of Pharmacy (MAP), Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) and various other partners to improve the infrastructure of smoking cessation services and their accessibility.
The programme involves both the public and private sectors. Dzulkefly said more than 1,000 private and public clinics have been assisting smokers who voluntarily sought help to end their nicotine addiction.
So far, 784 public primary care clinics (klinik kesihatan) and 300 private clinics have offered their services to help smokers under the mQuit programme.
Dzulkefly said mQuit will be widely promoted via displays on new no-smoking warning signs and on all packaging and cartons of smoking products.
Those seeking assistance to quit smoking or vaping can refer to the official JomQuit portal at jomquit.moh.gov.my or WhatsApp 010-3505199.
