Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
924. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine operational structures to provide nicotine replacement therapy without a prescription to GMS patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19558/19]
View answerTobacco consumption is the largest avoidable health threat in Ireland and one in two smokers will die from a tobacco-related disease. The policy document "Tobacco Free Ireland" sets out over 60 recommendations, with the overall aims of denormalising smoking in our society, protecting children from the harms of tobacco, enforcing, regulating and legislating for tobacco activities and products, educating about the dangers of tobacco and assisting those who smoke to stop.
Making nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) more widely available, including in outlets where tobacco products are sold, is one of the recommendations in "Tobacco Free Ireland".
NRT is available to medical card holders, on prescription, on the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. There are no plans to remove this requirement. NRT products are also available as over-the-counter items in pharmacies, without the need for a prescription.
In 2014, the Health Products Regulatory Authority announced that it had licensed some NRT items for sale in non-pharmacy outlets. In addition, two non-nicotine prescription medicines are authorised in Ireland to assist in smoking cessation, and these are available in medical card and drug payment schemes.
