Moves to make the anti-impotence drug Viagra available free under the GMS scheme will not be sanctioned until an expert group reports on its use, the Department of Health has reiterated.
This follows a report that, under an agreement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) which represents drug manufacturing companies and the Department, the drug is "guaranteed to be reimbursable". A Department spokeswoman said a decision on availability would not be made until the group monitors demand, prescribing patterns of doctors, and any problems with the control of the drug over a three-month period.
The agreement between the IPHA and the Department spells out the supply terms, conditions and prices of medicines supplied to the health service, according to the latest issue of Medicine Weekly. It means "new items of medicine granted a product authorisation by the Irish Medicines Board, provided they confirm with this agreement and with the published reimbursement criteria, will be reimbursable in the GMS and other community drug schemes".
The Secretary of the Department of Health, Mr Jerry O'Dwyer, said last week that if Viagra was available free under the various drugs schemes it would cost "not less than £7 million and perhaps up to £20 million" a year.
The provisions of the IPHA agreement, however, have prompted speculation among drug companies about the reasoning behind setting up the advisory group. The move will delay availability on the GMS. Medicine Weekly quotes market sources which suggest the delay would lead to some GMS patients purchasing the drug privately in response to suggestions that it has recreational properties. The Department spokeswoman told The Irish Times that the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, is concerned that Viagra may be seen as a lifestyle or recreational drug. Discussions were continuing between the Department, the IPHA and Pfizer, she said.
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