“ We don ’ t want people who have never smoked before to start vaping … but as a GP , this is certainly something I welcome .”
FORMER HEALTH MINISTER SIR NORMAN LAMB .
“ I am convinced this will be a game changer .”
ALAN BOOBIS , CHAIR OF THE UK COMMITTEE ON TOXICITY AND EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF TOXICOLOGY AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON .
“ Using an e-cigarette that meets consumer standards will be a lot less harmful than smoking cigarettes . Smokers can try vaping , without waiting for a medicinally licensed product .
“ However , licensed vaping products will have to meet a defined standard and in return will be available to clinicians to prescribe to their patients … which will be an important step forward .”
JACOB GEORGE , PROFESSOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE AND THERAPEUTICS , UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE .
HEALTH SECRETARY SAJID JAVID .
“ This is very welcome news for millions of people who are trying to quit tobacco cigarettes .
“ Opening the door to a licensed e-cigarette prescribed on the NHS has the potential to tackle the stark disparities in smoking rates across the country , helping people stop smoking wherever they live and whatever their background .”
“ Clinical trial evidence suggests that it is more effective than nicotine patches for smoking cessation and it has positive effects on blood vessels when tobacco smokers switch to e-cigarettes .”
PROFESSOR NICK HOPKINSON , MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE BRITISH LUNG FOUNDATION AND ASTHMA UK .
“ There is already good evidence that commercially available e-cigarettes enable people to switch away from smoking to a much safer alternative .
“ However , the development of medicinally licensed e-cigarettes would provide patients and healthcare professionals with an additional tool to break dependence on smoking , backed up by the reassurance that comes from a rigorous authorisation process .”
MARY GLINDON , MP FOR NORTH TYNESIDE AND VICE-CHAIR OF THE APPG FOR VAPING .
“ The Department of Health ’ s announcement to prescribe e-cigarettes on the NHS is warmly welcomed .
“ It demonstrates a huge vote of confidence in the role vaping can play to significantly reduce health inequalities attributed to smoking .
“ There is still much more to be done to achieve a smokefree society , but today is a good day for public health .”
GP AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR DR AMIR KHAN .
“ On balance , e-cigarettes are much safer than smoking and people who use vaping to help them quit , combined with expert face to face advice , are twice as likely to stop smoking then if they were using patches or gum .
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