Kyrgyzstan Quitline — National Smoking Cessation Helpline

Frequently asked questions

Is there a quitline to help you stop smoking in Kyrgyzstan?

Yes. Kyrgyzstan runs a national stop-smoking helpline reached by dialling 2103. It is described as a free, anonymous service for people who want to quit smoking, and it appears in the Help.kg hotline directory. The WHO also notes that a toll-free quit line is available in the country.

Source: Help.kg — Hotline directory (2103) , WHO — Tobacco Control Fact Sheet, Kyrgyzstan

What is 2103 and how do I reach the helpline?

2103 is a short code, not a full phone number, so you dial those four digits directly from a mobile phone in Kyrgyzstan. It connects you to the national smoking-cessation helpline. A live specialist answers during the daytime on weekdays, and at other times (evenings, nights, weekends and holidays) an automated system plays recorded advice on the harms of tobacco and nicotine.

Source: Help.kg — Hotline directory (2103)

Is calling 2103 free?

Yes. The 2103 helpline is described as a free and anonymous service. It works from the main Kyrgyz mobile networks, including Mega, O! and Beeline, so reaching it should cost nothing from a mobile phone in the country.

Source: Help.kg — Hotline directory (2103) , Kaktus.media — Where to call to quit smoking

Where else can I get help to quit smoking in Kyrgyzstan?

If you cannot reach the helpline or want more support, your local family doctor or polyclinic in the public health system can advise you on quitting. The Republican Center for Health Promotion and Mass Communication publishes tobacco-control and quit-smoking information for the public. Note that, according to the WHO, cessation counselling in the community is not cost-covered and nicotine-replacement therapy is not generally available, though varenicline can be bought in pharmacies at the user's own cost.

Source: Republican Center for Health Promotion and Mass Communication (Минздрав КР) , WHO — Tobacco Control Fact Sheet, Kyrgyzstan

Who runs the line and what language is it in?

The helpline is connected to the Republican Center for Health Promotion and Mass Communication, a body under the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic. Kyrgyzstan uses Kyrgyz and Russian, and the Center publishes its material in both languages, so help is generally available in Kyrgyz and Russian.

Source: Republican Center for Health Promotion and Mass Communication (Минздрав КР) , Help.kg — Hotline directory (2103)