ANALYSIS Rachel Carter and Paul Smith FOR a group pushing for pharmacists to diag-

put to me and my team in our meeting was that they would support these substances being made S2 or S4 ,” Senator Jordon Steele-

“ In our ideal model , we would get rid of vaping completely . But being pragmatic , what we need to do is keep it out of our children ’ s

nose more , prescribe more and dispense more ,

John told Parliament .

hands .”

it seems there is one place the Pharmacy Guild

“ So to come into this debate and propose

If you were extremely cynical , even

of Australia does not want to go .

that they oppose making them S3 because they

with vapes being given S3 status , phar-

Last month it reacted in rage at Federal

are concerned about the safety of the substance

macies could enter that grey but profita-

Government moves to make nicotine vapes S3

is very disingenuous , given that S2 would have

ble retail area where they supply the

products .

made it easier for young people and adults to

substantial demand for vapes as rec-

The downscheduling means GPs will be

access the vaping products .”

reational products .

relieved of the prescribing job , with the task of guiding those wanting to quit cigarettes through vapes shifting to the pharmacist .

And we know relieving GPs of workload is what the guild is all about .

But the guild said the legislative change , the

‘ The guild said it would support S2 for vapes .’

The guild could claim that at least those vapes sold by pharmacists carry less harms than the black market products and , as such , do have a therapeutic purpose .

And as an added bonus , as an

result of a deal with the Greens , was “ insulting ” and would turn community pharmacies into

— Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John

S3 , there would be no competition from Woolies .

“ vape retailers and vape garbage collectors ”.

The guild , it is important to say , “ categorically

That is purely a hypo-

The legislation passed by Parliament to make

denies ” any of this .

thetical question , of course ,

this all happen had been developed without con-

In a statement to Australian Doctor , it said

given the guild ’ s position

sultation , it added , and would put “ a new gener-

it never had a policy position supporting nic-

that vapes are for doc-

ation of young people in harm ’ s way ”.

otine-containing vapes being listed as S2

tors only . But it is worth

Strong words , but also strange words . Surely

medicines .

considering .

if pharmacists are now directly involved as the

But why is the guild so opposed to nicotine

To be clear about what

gatekeepers for patient safety , as they have with

vapes as S3 ? It does ensure pharmacist oversight ,

happens next , the down-

antibiotics for STIs , that cannot happen ?

and the pharmacies still get to make money by

scheduling of vapes will

A Greens senator was far from happy , stating

selling the products at a price they determine .

occur on 1 October . Phar-

that the guild ’ s outrage was “ disingenuous ”. He

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins was quick

macies can still choose

claimed the guild had lobbied him directly for

to note the ironies of the guild ’ s protestations .

whether or not to supply

even looser restrictions , where the vapes could

“ If pharmacists want to step into that

them .

be sold without a pharmacist having to offer

increasing role of managing medical conditions ,

Under-18s needing a vape for

any counselling or professional advice at all . “ Let me say very clearly , the view the guild

smoking and nicotine cessation are important public health issues ,” she said .

therapeutic purposes will still require a script from a doctor .

Senator Jordon Steele-John said the guild was disingenuous .