The patches, valued at around P41 million, will be distributed by LCP and select hospitals to tobacco users from 20 to 50 years old, with comorbidities, and are ready to quit.
The Philippines becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to receive nicotine patches as part of the World Health Organization’s Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco (AIQT).
The Lunch Center of the Philippines (LCP) received 315,000 nicotine patches to provide 4,500 high-risk smokers with an eight-week supply of Nicorette InvisiPatch.
The patches, valued at around P41 million, will be distributed by LCP and select hospitals to tobacco users from 20 to 50 years old, with comorbidities, and are ready to quit.
Eligible smokers under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) population are given priority.
According to the UN agency, the Philippines had about 15.9 million adult smokers in 2019, mostly among people with low income.
“The addition of the Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches) will be a boost to the Department of Health’s efforts in addressing the negative health impacts caused by tobacco use,” said Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines.
The agency reminds tobacco users that the DOH Quitline 1558 is always free of charge for anyone calling from Metro Manila or the provinces.
A chatbot is also available through DOH’s mReady2Quit Facebook page that will constantly send prompts weeks before their desired quit date until six months after.
WHO has also commended the Philippines for including tobacco cessation support as part of its National Preparedness and Response Plan to COVID-19 to create smoke-free and healthier environments.
Baguio General Hospital Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City are among the facilities which will receive the patches..
The Nicorette InvisiPatch, however, will not be available over-the-counter in the Philippines.
Its special use was granted by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration following review and approval on the occasion of this donation.
Based on the results on the smokers who will receive the nicotine patches, the DOH is open to the possibility of allowing the product to be sold in the future.
Tags: #WorldHealthOrganization, #nicotinepatches, #LungCenterofthePhilippines