A surgeon was left fuming in a heated debate on GB News after a guest suggested that vaping is beneficial to people in comparison to smoking.
It comes after a study suggested that the NHS should be giving out vapes and e-cigarettes for free to help people quit smoking cigarettes.
Speaking on GB News, vascular surgeon Professor Sherif Sultan said: "Promotion of vaping as a harm reduction tool is misguided.
"We are witnessing a troubling conversion of public health objectives and corporate interests.
He added: "The problem is that the lobbying and trying to show that vaping is much safer doesn't have any scientific evidence. The World Health Organisation said it's not true, and it's a trap. This is from the director general and he said that it's a body of lies, that is what they think about vaping.
Sherif Sultan told Max Marlow that vaping is "not safe"
GB News
"The W.H.O (World Health Organisation) is the only big international institute that hasn't been penetrated by the lobbying group about vaping. That's why the likes of giant tobacco are trying to target the W.H.O. and pull it down.
"We are witnessing a criminal act by trying to provide vaping in emergencies for patients coming in with a problem. They will block the lungs. We have no idea what the long-term effects are."
"Please don't tell me that is safe. It is not safe. And we have to tell people it's not safe."
However, Max Marlow from the Adams Institute argued: "Smoking kills sixty-thousand people a year. Vaping does not.
"There is no clinical evidence whatsoever to support that. It is a tried and tested way of getting people off smoking. That is the most important thing.
"We've had e-cigarettes for over 15 years now, and that's quite long term. We know the health outcomes of these. It is much safer than smoking. So you can either do a cost-benefit analysis, which is important here.
"We do this a lot in economics wherein we can say the cost of people vaping in the immediate and long term is low.
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Crackdown measures on vaping are being introduced
GETTY
A study suggested that Vapes should be offered on the NHS
WikimediaCommons/SmileSmith25"We have our public health outcome. And it's being praised as world-leading. The professor can shake his head. I've seen no citation of his work anywhere."
The professor interjected: "You are working in an organisation that's taking money from the tobacco industry. You are writing a consultancy, reports and lobbying tactics from your organisation.
"How can you tell me that? You're the least transparent organisation in the whole UK, as per Democracy Online. What are you talking about? Telling me that I'm wrong.
"I'm telling you what the FDA is telling you. The FDA have already totally cancelled anything regarding e-cigarettes."
Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of public health charity Action on Smoking and Health, said that the findings of the study "are compelling" and should be "carefully considered by those in the NHS and local government who are planning services for smoker
An NHS spokesperson said in response to the report: "Smoking costs the NHS and the taxpayer billions every year in avoidable health and social care costs.
"Encouraging more people to stop smoking tobacco will support them to have healthier lives."
E-cigarettes are not currently available from the NHS on prescription, so you cannot get one from your GP. You can buy them from specialist vape shops, some pharmacies and other retailers, or on the internet.
