In an historic first for public health, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the UK’s National Health Service overwhelming approved tobacco harm reduction as a key component in England’s ten year plan to reduce cigarette smoking by half. The US FDA should follow the UK’s lead. The announcement and a news excerpt are below, the press release is attached, and the full report “A Smokefree Future” is at http://www.dh.gov.uk/dr_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_111748.pdf
Interesting development in the UK.
What are your thoughts?
Do you see the FDA following suit?
2 comments ↓
By March 31, comments should be submitted to http://www.nice.org.uk/getinvolved/patientandpublicinvolvement/opportunitiestogetinvolved/citizenscouncil/reports/CitizensCouncilReportSmokingAndHarmReductionWithInvitationToComment.jsp
applauding the tobacco harm reduction plan as a first step, and urging the NHS to also include smokefree tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
This is very interesting. I hope it has some influence with the folks at the FDA but from what I hear they are just continuing to fight the nicotine deal with the e-cig companies. Still have to think that PM and the Pharmacy industry are still a factor.
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