Asda's decision to offer patients ventolin Evohalers without a prescription has split C+D readers, with some calling it a step forward for the profession but others voicing concerns over potential abuse of the service.

The initiative, announced last week, enables pharmacists to issue two inhalers every eight weeks to customers over the age of 16 under a patient group direction. Pharmacists are only able to dispense the inhalers once patients have completed a questionnaire on their medical background to ensure treatment is appropriate.

Asda announced "overwhelmingly positive feedback" about the service but some C+D readers questioned the patient benefit and branded the move "purely commercial"

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But while Asda said it had received "overwhelmingly positive" feedback about the service and some C+D readers backed the move, other people posting on C+D's message board questioned whether the initiative would benefit patients. "Assuming [an average use of] once per day, two inhalers will last a year," said community pharmacist Tom Mavir. "Is there demand? If there is, why? Are we looking after asthma patients properly?" Locum pharmacist Paul Reader suggested Asda's decision had been "purely commercial", arguing that it was "very likely to increase inappropriate use [of the inhalers] with consequent risks to patients' health".

Community pharmacist David Kent criticised the price of the inhalers available at Asda – £7 for both inhalers – for being cheaper than the prescription charge. "Once again the multiples are leading the profession into supplying services at a remuneration level that is too low," he said. "Professional pharmacy services should not be used as a ‘loss leader'."

However, some C+D readers defended Asda's move, with dispensing assistant Benjamin D'Montigny describing it as "a step forward in accessing regular medication without having to waste doctors' and patients' time".  Superintendent A Watson also backed the service, saying it was "pushing pharmacy forward".

And Faisal Tuddy, commercial manager for pharmacy at Asda, told C+D that the scheme had received an "overwhelmingly positive" response from patients. He stressed that the initiative had been carefully planned, and would offer a more convenient alternative to GP appointments.

"This is something that's been in the pipeline for over a year and we've worked with our pharmacists on a regular basis," he said. "This isn't something we've just dreamed up – we're working with a really reputable independent medical agency, DrThom, which has been in this market for a number of years."

Last week, the Asda confirmed that it would be auditing the service to ensure that patients could not abuse it.