from the fields Pharmaceutical (FTFP) is unveiling an information drive targeting community pharmacy, ahead of the 01 Mar commencement of new retail regulations for the sale and distribution of medically prescribed vaping products in pharmacies.
As the Australian standard therapeutic vape manufacturer, FTFP COO Wayne Jones (pictured), said TGA's estimate of 450,000 adult vapers and ex-smokers transitioning to buy therapeutic vape products under prescription requires heightened awareness among all pharmacies.
Jones explained financial estimates of the combined vaping black market, including a small existing therapeutic prescription component for vapes, is $2 billion in annual sales via 1.6 million Australian users.
The TGA is predicting around a third of Aussie adult vapers could start the progressive switch to a therapeutic vape product under a prescription given by a doctor or a nurse practitioner.
"The TGA estimates the prescription vape market could generate up to $800 million in future annual sales through pharmacy distribution channels," Jones added.
"This is a predictive switch and we argue it will become a major disruption to the current and dominant black market fuelled vaping market in Australia, which will come under future strain."
Jones mentioned change in retail market conditions for nicotine vaping products (NVPs) is inevitable under the suite of government-backed reforms which form part of a major public health policy approach to tackle nicotine.
"We recognise local pharmacies are well placed to provide advice and to retail quality NVPs dispensed under a prescription.
"This may constitute a new growing customer base for them along with an increasing role they can play around the use of therapeutic vaping products in smoking cessation," he added. JG
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