MEASURES making nicotine electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) Prescription Only products available exclusively through pharmacies from 01 Oct, recognise the public health concerns associated with vaping, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes.
However, a Guild spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily that the organisation "acknowledges there are benefits as well as risks associated with the use of nicotine".
"The decision to require a prescription to access nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine liquids is an important measure to protect consumers, and to assure pharmacists that products being supplied have been assessed for safety and quality," the spokesperson said.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said the move to restrict access to vaping products would "provide an opportunity for consumers to receive appropriate medical advice on the use and risks associated with these products", a view the Guild supports.
"The Guild believes the availability of nicotine containing e-cigarettes on prescription should facilitate access for smoking cessation purposes only," the spokesperson said.
"As the most frequently visited and accessible primary healthcare destination in Australia - community pharmacies will play an important role in patients accessing these products when they become available."
With no e-cigarettes currently included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), patients will only be able to access them through the Authorised Prescriber Scheme, or the Special Access Scheme.
CLICK HERE for the latest information about e-cigarettes for pharmacists from the TGA.
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