On Friday, the British government opened the door for the possibility of prescribing e-cigarettes within the public health system for smokers looking to quit tobacco in England. According to the Department of Health, Britain could become the first country in the world to allow e-cigarettes to be prescribed as a medical tool.
The department stated that manufacturing companies can submit their products for approval by the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), following the same path as pharmaceutical manufacturers. If approved, doctors will be able to "make decisions on a case-by-case basis regarding the appropriateness of prescribing an e-cigarette to patients to assist them in quitting smoking."
Despite e-cigarettes containing nicotine and not being without risks, the British government asserted that these products are less harmful than tobacco based on British and American studies. The Department of Health noted that medically approved e-cigarettes must undergo "more stringent safety tests." Smoking is the leading cause of preventable early deaths, accounting for approximately 64,000 deaths in England in 2019.
Although the number of smokers has dropped to its lowest level, England still has 6.1 million smokers. The Boris Johnson government highlighted the significant differences in smoking rates between wealthy areas and other regions, incorporating this initiative into the Conservative Prime Minister's policy aimed at "restoring balance" in the country.
