Over the past five years, consumption of smoking cessation medications has decreased by 51.35%.

According to National Pharmaceutical Association (ANF) data shared by Lusa, consumption of medications and smoking cessation products has fallen by about 19% over the past five years, with the steepest drop in pharmaceuticals (-51.35%).

Data from the ANF Center for Health Research and Evaluation (CEFAR) shows that in 2023, 133,638 over-the-counter products (gummies, lozenges, lozenges, transdermal systems and sprays) were sold in pharmacies and parapharmacies, an increase of 5.60 less. % compared to the previous year and 3.69% less than in 2019.

For prescription smoking cessation medications, data shows that 31,225 packages were sold last year, up 33.26% from 2022 but down 51.35% from 2019. when 64,183 packages were dispensed in pharmacies.

A total of 164,919 packages of medicines and smoking cessation products were sold in 2023, a decrease of 38,085 compared to 2019 (-18.76%), according to data provided by Lusa in connection with World No Tobacco Day, which celebrated on Friday.

ANF ​​highlights that the category of prescription drugs (bupropion and varenicline) recorded the “biggest drop”, recalling that it was in this category that Champix, a drug reimbursed by the state in 37% of cases, was included. but which was withdrawn from sale in 2021 by decision of the laboratory.

Until recently, Champix was the only drug reimbursed by the NHS for smoking cessation. However, “the cost of the generic drug varenicline was recently reimbursed,” Lusa told Infarmed.

In the year that Champix was still on the market, in 2021 the NHS charge for smoking cessation drugs prescribed and dispensed in community pharmacies was close to €500,000. The following year they became residual: 2,410 euros, half of which were drugs whose active ingredient was varenicline.

Infarmed explains that these values ​​”may arise as a result of residual consumption of Champix and exceptional reimbursement schemes.”

Last year, the SNA spent less than six thousand euros, and in the first three months of this year it did not even reach two thousand euros.

Commenting on the findings to Lusa, Sofia Ravara, coordinator of the Smoking Committee of the Portuguese Society of Pulmonologists, said they demonstrate the need for medicines to be more affordable and reimbursed.

“The very high cost is a barrier to people wanting to use the drugs and quit smoking,” the pulmonologist said, arguing that financial incentives should be given to smokers to encourage them to quit.

According to Sofia Ravara, this incentive “is to reduce the price of medicines and reimburse the cost of medicines.”

He added that this support is needed to increase adherence to pharmacological therapy, especially among the most vulnerable populations who need to quit smoking and chronically ill people who have multiple conditions and already spend a lot of money on medications.

On the other hand, he defended the increase in the number of smoking cessation advice centers and that “the number of smokers receiving treatment in the NHS and in private or social health care is increasing.”

Citing data from the latest population survey of a representative sample of the Portuguese population aged 15 to 74, the pulmonologist said tobacco consumption is “very high” throughout adult life.

“It is very high (…) in young people aged 25 to 34 years and especially increases between the ages of 34 and 65 years,” the age at which tobacco consumption begins to decline, but the benefits of quitting are smaller.

At the same time, he emphasized that “there is no age at which you can quit smoking,” since “there are always benefits, it improves the quality of life and health.”

“The vast majority of smokers have a mild to moderate addiction, which means that most, with a strong tobacco control package, will be able to quit without ever needing to enter a treatment program,” says Sofia Ravara.