Health Minister, Paul Goggins, has announced that £480,000 will be allocated to HSS Boards to improve smokers' access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
The funding will enable over 200 community pharmacies throughout Northern Ireland to provide a one-stop specialist smoking cessation service, from December 2006.
Making the announcement, Mr Goggins said: "Northern Ireland's Smoke- Free legislation has been designed to protect the public from the harmful effects of second hand smoke. It is fair to assume however that some smokers may also take this opportunity to quit. Experiences elsewhere suggest that demand for cessation services increase following the announcement and introduction of smoke-free legislation.
"Pharmacies currently play a valuable role in providing advice, help and support to smokers wishing to quit. The £480,000 I have made available, in both 2006/07 and 2007/08, will allow the supply of NRT direct to smokers through Pharmacy Based Cessation Services, improving smokers access to expert advice and NRT.
"Evidence has shown that smokers who take part in smoking cessation services such as this, combining advice and support with NRT, quadruple their chance of quitting compared to using willpower alone."
Smokers enrolled in the pharmacy service will be provided, where appropriate, with free NRT if they do not pay for their prescriptions. Smokers who pay for their prescriptions will pay a prescription charge for each week that NRT is supplied.
The Minister concluded: "Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland, costing the health service around £44 million each year. This increased availability of NRT through pharmacy based services will enable more smokers to access the help that they need to break the habit and quit."
