2 sources·Started 7d ago·Updated 7d ago

Spain to approve tobacco and pharmaceutical laws this Tuesday

Consejo de MinistrosMinisterio de SanidadMónica GarcíaJavier PadillaLey del TabacoLey de Medicamentos y Productos Farmacéuticos

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INEL

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The Spanish Council of Ministers is set to approve this Tuesday the preliminary drafts of two major health laws: a tobacco law that significantly expands smoke-free areas and prohibits minors from consuming vaping products, and a pharmaceutical law that expands prescribing powers to nurses and physiotherapists and accelerates the public financing of medicines. Source: infobae, elconfidencial

Tobacco law

The new law, which reforms the 2005 legislation, subjects e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches, and other novel products to the same restrictions as conventional tobacco. Source: infobae Key measures include:

Prohibition of consumption by minors: Not only is the sale to minors banned, but also their actual use of these devices, with fines of €100 to be paid by parents or guardians. Source: infobae
Expansion of smoke-free spaces: Smoking and vaping are banned in outdoor restaurant terraces, transport stops, open-air concerts, vehicles used for work (e.g., taxis), and swimming pools. Source: infobae
End of flavored e-cigarettes: Already enacted via royal decree, but the law reinforces the restriction to tobacco-only flavors to reduce youth appeal. Source: infobae

Pharmaceutical law

The updated legislation aims to modernize the roles of healthcare professionals. Source: elconfidencial Main points:

Sources

4 quotes

infobae↗

“se prohíbe la venta de dispositivos de vapeo o similares y, por primera vez, su consumo, con multas de 100 euros que deberán asumir sus padres o tutores en caso de infracción.”

infobae↗

“incluirá ahora un sistema de precios dinámicos, que permite que el medicamento genérico -que tiene menos margen de beneficio- baje de precio a medida que va aumentando el volumen de dispensación.”

elconfidencial↗

“El Consejo de Ministros aprueba este martes el anteproyecto de la ley antitabaco y la de los medicamentos y productos farmacéuticos.”

Prescribing powers: Nurses and physiotherapists will be allowed to prescribe certain medications. Source: infobae
Pharmacist substitution: Pharmacists can substitute prescribed drugs with equivalent ones when there are supply problems. Source: infobae
Faster public financing: A maximum of 180 days for new drugs to receive public funding. Source: infobae
Dynamic pricing for generics: Generic drug prices will decrease as dispensing volume increases, to encourage use and save resources. Source: infobae

Both texts are in their second round of approval after incorporating feedback from public consultation and the Council of State. The government aims to complete parliamentary approval before the end of the current legislature. Source: elconfidencial

elconfidencial

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“El Ministerio de Sanidad quiere aprobar los dos textos en segunda vuelta antes del parón estival con la intención de que puedan aprobarse definitivamente antes de finalizar esta legislatura.”