THE Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has confirmed it is investigating teleheath websites for "potentially unlawful" nicotine vape prescriptions, according to a new report from Sky News Australia.
The drug regulator is looking into four online providers which it suspects may be offering nicotine vape prescriptions without "properly assessing" patients.
The websites under scrutiny include medicalnicotine.com.au, myduke.com.au, quitmate.com.au and its related online provider medmate.com.au.
"Although these services are not illegal, advertising them could, depending on the context, amount to encouraging patients to request a particular prescription medicine and may therefore amount to unlawful advertising of that prescription medicine," a TGA spokesperson said.
"Ensuring that vaping products are only accessed under the supervision of a medical or nurse practitioner also provides an opportunity for users to receive appropriate advice."
MyDuke, which is owned by Melbourne-based MEPH Pharmacy, has come under fire in the past for advertising nicotine vaping products unlawfully (PD 04 Mar 2022).
Health experts have argued that nicotine vape prescriptions must be handled by a qualified professional.
"There is a big difference between quality medical care being delivered from a quality telehealth appointment, to just clicking through an online form and being sold a vape almost directly," Associate Professor at University of Sydney School of Public Health Becky Freeman said. JM
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