ASOG publishes two working papers on smoking cessation under the Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy Development Fellowship

On 21 March 2025, the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), through the Ateneo Policy Center (APC), published two new working papers under the ASOG Working Paper Series for 2025. These papers, authored by fellows from the recently concluded Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy Development Fellowship (TPC PDF), contribute to the growing body of research supporting stronger tobacco control policies in the Philippines.

The first study, “Patient Itineraries for Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation in the Philippines: Implications for Tobacco Control,” was led by Mr Veincent Christian Pepito, in collaboration with Dr Ryan Molen and Dr Edgardo Ulysses Dorotheo. Their research examines tobacco and nicotine cessation services in the country from the perspective of users. The study identifies six possible pathways individuals take when attempting to quit and highlights key bottlenecks in each stage of their journey. Based on these findings, the authors provide targeted recommendations to strengthen the national tobacco cessation system and improve health outcomes.

The second study, “The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Nicotine Replacement Therapy Plus Quitline vs. Quitline Alone in the Philippines,” was conducted by Dr Veronica Prasad, with guidance from Dr Nadia Doytch, a Non-Resident Research Fellow. Using a Markov model, Dr. Prasad simulated the costs and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) for a hypothetical cohort of Filipino smokers to assess the cost-effectiveness of integrating nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) via nicotine patches into the existing national Quitline. The study, conducted from a PhilHealth-payer perspective, concluded that adding NRT patches would be a cost-effective strategy and should be considered for inclusion in the PhilHealth benefit package.

These working papers are part of ASOG’s broader efforts to generate evidence that informs and strengthens tobacco control policies. The Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy Development Fellowship, launched in July 2024, was an eight-month program implemented in collaboration with the Department of Health - Health Promotion Bureau (DOH-HPB), with financial support from Vital Strategies. The fellowship is a key initiative under the National Tobacco Prevention and Control Strategy 2030 (NTPCS 2030), reinforcing the country’s commitment to reducing tobacco use through research-driven policymaking.