Winners of the annual Emirates Labour Market Award spoke about how they plan to use the money to build their dream houses, start businesses
uae10 hours ago
England’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) could start prescribing medically licensed electronic cigarettes to smokers in a world first, the health ministry said on Friday.
The move comes despite international concerns about the effects of commercially sold e-cigarettes and the popularity of vaping among young people.
The country’s medicines regulator is publishing updated guidance that the ministry said “paves the way for medicinally licensed e-cigarette products to be prescribed for tobacco smokers who wish to quit smoking”.
Manufacturers of e-cigarettes will be able to submit products for approval in the same way as other medicines available on the NHS.
“E-cigarettes contain nicotine and are not risk-free, but expert reviews from the UK and US have been clear that the regulated e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking,” the ministry said.
They have been shown “to be highly effective in supporting those trying to quit”, it added.
Over six million people still smoke in England, according to the government, with rates much higher in poorer regions. Smoking caused almost 64,000 deaths in 2019.
Health minister Sajid Javid said medical prescription of e-cigarettes “has the potential to tackle the stark disparities in smoking rates across the country”.
The MHRA regulator issued a statement saying it wants to “encourage the licensing of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other inhaled NCPs (nicotine-containing products) as medicines” for treating those dependent on tobacco.
E-cigarettes regulated as medicine could contain larger amounts of nicotine than permitted for commercial sale, it added.
The move by England’s health authorities comes despite international concerns about the trend for vaping.
ALSO READ:
The World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in July that e-cigarettes are “harmful and must be better regulated”.
The US in 2019 had a large outbreak of acute lung disease linked to a substance commonly added to vaping products containing THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
This prompted the US government to make legal changes to curb youth vaping.
Winners of the annual Emirates Labour Market Award spoke about how they plan to use the money to build their dream houses, start businesses
uae10 hours ago
10 lucky fans will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the eight-division world champion
uae attractions10 hours ago
ASAS 2024 brought together over 1,000 young talents from 50 nationalities under the theme 'Art and Innovation'
kt network11 hours ago
While President-elect Trump's administration originally filed the search case against Google during his first term, he indicated he might not break up the company
tech11 hours ago
The gathering explored the cutting edge of cinema, new media, PR and marketing, IT technologies, eSports, and game development
kt network11 hours ago
Passengers were currently being prevented from entering the building
world11 hours ago
Users will be able to select transcript language, too; here's how the new smart tool works
tech11 hours ago
With the new tariff, Yango Ride users can expect comfortable, modern limo vehicles starting from a minimum fare of Dh15.6
kt network12 hours ago