Tasmanian Guild President Helen O’Byrne joined Tasmanian Health Minister, the Hon Guy Barnett MP at the announcement.
Ms O’Byrne said the decision was a common-sense decision to protect the health of Tasmanians, particularly young Tasmanians, who were overrepresented in vape usage statistics.
The changes announced today mean in Tasmania, community pharmacies will only be permitted to dispense a nicotine-containing vape to patients who present with a valid prescription.
The change effectively brings to life earlier reform attempted at a Commonwealth level, which was to classify nicotine-containing vapes as Schedule 4 product (Prescription Only).
This original Commonwealth reform was supported by community pharmacists across the country and 63 patient, healthcare and school groups including the Australian Medical Association, the Cancer Council, Lung Foundation Australia, the Public Health Association of Australia, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Ms O’Byrne said pharmacists, as healthcare professionals, were concerned about the risk of harm to their patients by the dispensing of a product not approved by the Therapeutics Goods Administration.
“No vaping product has been approved by the TGA based on its safety, efficacy or performance. No vaping product is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
“There is limited evidence to support the use of vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence. There is evidence that vaping has long-term patient harms, including cancer, lung-scarring and nicotine addiction.
“1 October 2024 looms large for community pharmacists across the country, as the day they bear the sole burden of supplying a product known to be harmful and addictive to Australians. We didn’t ask for it and we don’t want it in community pharmacy.
“I’m pleased today’s announcement relieves Tasmania’s community pharmacists of this uncertainty.
“On behalf of Tasmania’s community pharmacists, we thank Minister Barnett and his Government for their leadership on this critical public health issue. It’s a decision that sees Tasmania set the standard on the responsible regulation of vapes.
“All we want to see is an end to kids vaping. This decision will expedite that outcome and with better regulation.
“Community pharmacists are highly trained health professionals, as health professionals we want to see the end of smoking and vaping.
“As part of community pharmacists working to their full scope of practice, smoking cessation treatment using proven therapeutic goods, is available in other jurisdictions and forms part of the Tasmanian Pharmacist Full Scope of Practice Program and the commitment from the Rockliff Government,” Ms O’Byrne said.