Summary
Date: 27 November 2019
The RACGP thanks the Department of Health for the opportunity to comment on the Terms of Reference for the Post-market review of medicines for smoking cessation. The RACGP is a strong advocate for smoking cessation and has invested considerable resources in this area, including the RACGP guide 'Supporting smoking cessation: A guide for health professionals'.
The RACGP emphasises the importance of appropriate dosing strategies, particularly for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) restrictions for these medicines prevent adequate prescribing for combination NRT. Cost can be a major barrier to using phamacotherapy for smoking cessation, particularly for vulnerable populations with specific needs.