FED:Taxpayers to foot bill for smoking patches

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2010
FED:Taxpayers to foot bill for smoking patches

Anti-smoking groups say the government's decision to put Nicotine patches on the PBS
means the cost of giving up cigarettes just got cheaper.

Quit spokeswoman FIONA SHARKIE says at present the cost of a four-week course of nicotine
patches is between $100 and $140 .. but under the new arrangements .. some smokers who
get a doctor's prescription could get a course of patches for as little as five dollars.

Australian Council on Smoking and Health president MIKE DAUBE has told ABC Radio that
smokers see the cost of patches as a disincentive and this will give them a financial
boost.

AAP RTV bsb/ar/jen/

KEYWORD: SMOKING (SYDNEY)

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