Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should work on a strong partnership with policy-makers, governments, NGOs, media and the society to promote tobacco control best practices and denormalise tobacco use. All HCPs should be tobacco control leaders by being role models as non-smokers; educating the general population about tobacco hazards and the benefits of quitting; promoting cessation and systematically identifying tobacco users as part of their routine clinical practice; advising and supporting them to quit; and advocating for comprehensive tobacco control policies. However, and despite all the robust evidence and the best efforts of many health care advocates, considerable challenges remain for tobacco control in health care. This talk will present the findings of recent surveys focusing on tobacco use among health sciences students and HCPs and will discuss the need for comprehensive tobacco control policies and organisational change in health care.