According to the World Health Organization, transdermal patches are one of the "Essential Medicines" to replace nicotine.
Transdermal patches and chewing gums were placed there on the recommendation of the 17th Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, which met in Geneva on 23-27 March 2009.
In making its recommendation, the committee cited the public health need, the high-quality evidence of effectiveness and the therapies' acceptable safety and cost-effectiveness.