COULD NHS VAPING PRESCRIPTIONS LIMIT CONSUMER CHOICE ?
While the UK government should be ‘ praised ’ for its world ’ s first vaping prescription plan … many are asking if it ’ s the right way to tackle the smoking epidemic .
Words : Jordan Millar
When UK health officials announced that e-cigarettes could be made available through the NHS , there was an almost universal cheer of celebration .
Advocates were ecstatic that England is set be the first country in the world to prescribe vaping products as an approved quitting tool for smokers .
But , while this is a groundbreaking victory for the vaping industry , not everybody thinks it ’ s the right way to achieve a smokefree future .
Experts warned that a medically-approved prescription service could pose a threat to one of the most important aspects of vaping … consumer choice .
They highlighted that e-cigarettes give smokers almost complete control over their quitting journey , but the freedom to switch between flavours and devices could be lost under the scheme .
Peter Hajek of Queen Mary University of London said : “ I ’ m not sure that medical licensing of e-cigarettes is a good idea .
“ Smokers are more likely to benefit from vaping if they can select the flavours , strengths and products they like … rather than being limited to whatever becomes licensed .”
The psychologist questioned whether vaping brands even had the resources to fund and comply with an inevitably complex approval process .
Some advocates are now suggesting that health officials simply recommend existing products to smokers and direct them to recognised and longstanding companies .
However , while the debate around NHS prescribed e-cigarettes rages on , most
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