Quit smoking - for price of one packet of fags

Moderate to heavy smokers are being offered subsidised nicotine replacement therapy to help them quit - for the price of a packet of cigarettes.

Health Minister Annette King announced yesterday that the Government was spending $6.18 million on the programme. This was on top of $5 million in the Budget to help Maori stop smoking.

About a quarter of the population smoke - almost 740,000 New Zealanders.

"This programme can help them all to quit smoking if they are prepared to try," Mrs King said in Wellington.

The money would subsidise nicotine replacement therapies for moderate to heavy smokers for up to eight weeks.

Smokers could contact Quitline or a health professional for a certificate entitling them to a four-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy, with an option for another four-week supply.

A four-week supply would cost smokers about the price of one packet of cigarettes. Usually, such therapies cost up to $125 a month.

Mrs King said some details of the programme, including a starting date, had yet to be decided, but she wanted it operating as soon as possible.

"The sooner smokers give up, the better chance they have of living a healthy life again and of fulfilling their potential as New Zealanders."

The minister said $4 million of the funding had come from the $15 million Green Party Budget package.

Green MP Sue Kedgley said her party's priority had been to make sure low-income smokers could afford nicotine patches to help them kick their addiction.

But the $2.18 million top-up provided by the Government meant help was available to all smokers.

Monitoring and evaluation of the programme would begin a month after the nicotine patches were made available.

Associate Health Minister Phillida Bunkle said measures to help people quit smoking had until now been piecemeal, but there was nothing half-hearted about this initiative.

"No moderate to heavy smoker will be able to say this Government is not concerned about their health."

Mrs King said in response to written parliamentary questions that the $5 million a year to help Maori quit smoking could be used to expand pilot programmes that used nicotine replacement therapy in conjunction with counselling for Maori women and their families.

The national Quitline would be boosted and a media campaign would be given a Maori focus.

Other smoking cessation services were being considered. Final decisions on the mix of services would be made by the Health Funding Authority after consultation with Maori, she said.

Quitline welcomed the Government's move but said it would be several months before it could offer nicotine replacement therapy.

Spokeswoman Jane Mills said it would take time to set up the programme.

Quitline's main focus would continue to be free, confidential telephone help and support for smokers wanting to quit.

- NZPA