Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, has called for the Scottish Government to be clearer in their communications to patients in relation to prescribing cigarettes on the NHS.
Murdo questioned the public health Minister, Maureen Watt MSP, on e-cigarettes following reports that NHS doctors would be able to prescribe them as part of smoking cessation services following a Public Health England report into their safety.
In response the Minister stated that the prescription of e-cigarettes would have to be made by individual health boards following robust testing as the regulation of medicines is a matter for the UK Government.
Up to a third of people looking to stop smoking use e-cigarettes to substitute the real thing and around one in twenty Scots are currently using them.
The UK medicines regulator has approved a brand of e-cigarette to be marketed as an aid to help people stop smoking. The decision means e-Voke, produced by British American Tobacco, could be prescribed on the NHS.
Public Health England says e-cigarettes are far less harmful than tobacco and help smokers quit.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The Scottish Government must be clear in detailing whether e-cigarettes are to be made available on the NHS for those looking to give up smoking.
“E-cigarettes alongside nicotine patches are now the most common quitting aid and are proving extremely useful in transitioning to a smoke free lifestyle.
“Public Health England have acknowledged this and many smokers in Scotland are rightly asking whether they will be able to receive e-cigarettes as part of stop smoking services. The Scottish Government must offer more clarity on this issue.
“If e-cigarettes are to be made available on the NHS in Scotland, health boards across Tayside, Fife and Forth Valley will have to factor this into their budgets and the sooner this is done the easier it will be for future budget planning.”