Plans to prescribe e-cigarettes on the NHS have collapsed following the abandonment of the only product licensed for medical use.

The eVoke device received approval two years ago amid hopes it could help thousands of smokers to quit.

But British American Tobacco, which holds the medical licence, says the product is unlikely to ‘see the light of day’ because of production difficulties.

Linda Bauld, a professor of health policy at Stirling University, said: ‘I am disappointed not to see at least one type of electronic cigarette available on the NHS to help people quit smoking and which is significantly safer than cigarettes, available for a small prescription charge.

Plans to prescribe e-cigarettes on the NHS have collapsed following the abandonment of the only product licensed for medical use

‘I never thought that it was ideal however for a tobacco company to be making a pharmaceutical product, and this does not surprise me. Some tobacco control experts did not think British American Tobacco’s heart was really in this.’

BAT has also won approval for a nicotine replacement inhaler but has passed the product on to another company for manufacture. Sources claim firms are deterred from producing electronic cigarettes suitable for the Health Service because of strict safety rules.

Unlike commercial e-cigarettes, medical devices need to deliver consistent doses and justify the health claims made on their behalf.

BAT insisted it was able to make a product complying with rules on particles and nicotine, but that scaling up the manufacturing process had caused technical problems.

It said rapid developments in the technology for e-cigarettes had left the eVoke out of date. David O’Reilly, group scientific director at BAT, said: ‘We were never really interested in prescription products. At that time, the medicinal route was the only route to market, but smokers do not see themselves as patients.

‘Now there are additional routes to market, and we are devoting significant time and resources to extending consumer choice and delivering ever better next-generation tobacco and nicotine products.’

Public Health England has been urging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes. The government agency insists ‘vaping’ is 95 per cent safer than tobacco, despite fears over chemical additives

Public Health England has been urging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes. The government agency insists ‘vaping’ is 95 per cent safer than tobacco, despite fears over chemical additives.

The inhaler made by BAT and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is called the Voke.

BAT signed over its rights to Voke to Kind Consumer Limited, which plans to sell it commercially this year.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: ‘The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit. In our new tobacco control plan we have committed to maximising the availability of safer alternatives to smoking, like e-cigarettes to help people to quit for good.’

Public Health England is set this week to publish a review into the safety of e-cigarettes.