To manage the new legislative changes that came into effect 1 October, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has developed guidelines and education to support Australian pharmacists through the transition.
“A prescription will be required to access nicotine vaping products. When nicotine vaping products are prescribed under the Authorised Prescriber Scheme or the Special Access Scheme they can be dispensed through local pharmacies, explains Manager, Practice Support and project lead, Claire Antrobus.
“As a result of these legislative changes, we are likely to see patients presenting to pharmacies, to access nicotine vaping products via prescription. PSA has worked with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Section, Quit Victoria, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists to develop guidelines and education which equips pharmacists with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage the transition.
“These guidelines outline the pharmacist’s role in providing smoking cessation support and key requirements for dispensing nicotine vaping products, including counselling and safety considerations.
“There are currently no nicotine vaping products registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, so access to these unapproved therapeutic goods will occur via the Special Access Scheme, Authorised Prescriber Scheme or Personal Importation Scheme pathway.
“These guidelines provide information for pharmacists about the key considerations for supporting patients to stop smoking, including the special considerations for nicotine vaping products,” says Ms Antrobus.
Last week, PSA hosted a smoking cessation webinar for members – detailing the role in which pharmacists will be required to fulfil when their patients seek smoking cessation advice. Upon completion, pharmacists will receive CPD credits. The recorded session can be accessed via this link.
To access the Guidelines for Pharmacists Providing Smoking Cessation Support, please visit this link. Further information is also available on the TGA website.
PSA, in collaboration with Quit Victoria, has developed two education modules to support pharmacists:
https://my.psa.org.au/s/training-plan/a110o00000E66Uc/dispensing-nicotine-vaping-products-part-2
