Dislike the allusion to passive smoking as justification for why to allow vaping. Especially considering that hospitals may have ban extended to blocks away from main entrance. Thus, I'm not sure what the point is being made here, though pretty sure it is: let's promote smokers to vape instead of smoke.
I think reality will be that if you are in hospital staying there for more than 1 day, that one viable option will be to introduce abusive smoker to idea of stopping smoking / eliminating use of nicotine altogether. I would think from medical perspective, this would be the #1 thing to advocate. I don't think medical personnel are going to say, in all instances, "you can either smoke blocks away or vape here, and we stand by this option as best path for you going forward."
But I do think in some instances, it will be more practical to say this to certain patients.
As for free product, I'm thinking that is so hospital has sense of control over what is being used in their building. Yet, wouldn't it likely be considered very poor product from experienced vaper's perspective? If someone came onto ECF today saying they tried product that was equivalent of what the hospital would likely provide for free and concluded that vaping is not for them, wouldn't every vaper on ECF say try a different product? And not just any different product, but bigger/better set up. Yet, that's from person who is willing to have that dialogue. Instead, hospital could set up patients to try vaping only to realize it is not as effective at meeting their cravings for nicotine as smoking is. And leading them to desire to get back to smoking, even if it means they have to walk a few blocks to enjoy the product they know works for them.
Personally, I'd rather see well ventilatedroom set up for smoking and perhaps other room set up for vaping. Encourage cessation, and if that is resisted then direct to either of the two rooms using whatever the patient is willing to pay for. IMO, this would be most practical way to deal with things and to meet consumer with where they are at, while advocating where they could go if interested in how to approach the issue from medical perspective. But of course, there will be biases from various medical personnel as to which path is the most righteous during your short (or long) stay at the hospital.
