To the question, should we reimburse the e-cigarette as part of a withdrawal, 80% of our Internet users answered “yes”. Behind this figure, the status of “drug” is debated.
the MHRA (1), the British drug regulator, has just approved an e-cigarette to be dispensed as part of smoking cessation. Across the Channel, this device will therefore be reimbursed to anyone who wishes to quit smoking. For experts in tobacco addiction, such as Professor Bertrand Dautzenberg, this is a mixed victory in terms of public health.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday, he wrote that: “The ‘e-voke’ e-cigarette obtains ‘drug’ status in the UK. Unfortunately, it is an old product from the British American Tobacco (BAT) tobacco company, ”he laments.
These first generation devices are less effective than current products because their battery is not powerful, and they do not deliver enough nicotine.
Why actor wanted to question its readers to find out what they thought of this British premiere. To the question, should we reimburse the electronic cigarette in the context of smoking cessation, we obtained more than 300 responses. A very large majority (80%), Internet users – mainly vapers – are in favor. However, behind this undoubtedly result hides more nuanced comments.
Answers from 334 Internet users, collected on the Facebook page of Pourquoidocteur on 6/01/2016 at 4:50 p.m.
The freedom to vape unhindered
TO Tomy who writes “the electronic cigarette is a way like any other to quit smoking. Why treat it any differently from other nicotine substitutes? “, Helen retorts: “I answered NO because there is no question that my vape is medicalized. We have been killed our vape with drastic measures that will make 99% of the current stuff disappear so pharmacists, don’t! Go and grow wheat elsewhere! “
And in this juicy market that many covet, Alexander indicates that “he does not want prescription, but recognition ”. For him, “a support even limited by the mutuals could be the” boost “which could decide a lot of smokers to try to quit smoking”.
No reimbursement by French mutuals
On this subject, Why actor specifies that the lists of mutual funds reimbursing e-cigarettes which are circulating are false. the Dr Philippe Presles, Health Research & Development Director for AXA France, told us that his group, at the present time, still does not issue health contracts with financial support for vaping. He concedes, however, that this track is under study, “because the e-cigarette looks a lot like a nicotine substitute like any other, and our goal is that our policyholders stop smoking”.
An Internet user, Stef Stef, even sees the promotion of vaping as a public service mission by concluding that “Health Insurance must encourage and by all means help smokers to become vapers.” This would be beneficial for everyone except of course for BigTobacco and BigPharma ”.
The debate on the status of electronic cigarettes is still far from over, and if you wish to participate in it you can always give your opinion on our Facebook page.
While the English will reimburse a #ecigarette in smoking cessation should we do the same in France? Leave a comment: a summary of the opinions will be published on our website!
Posted by Why actor on Tuesday 5 January 2016
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