E-drug: PM backs veto on subsidising Viagra on Australian PBS
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PM backs veto on cheap Viagra
The Australian, Edition 2, WED 30 JAN 2002, Page 007
By: Ian Henderson, John Kerin
John Howard has accepted a recommendation to veto cheap taxpayer-funded
Viagra for impotent men because of concerns it could blow out the
federal budget.
The Prime Minister is understood to believe that listing the impotence
drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme -- as proposed by the
Government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee -- would be an
unjustified drain on the budget.
The furor erupted after The Australian reported on January 16 the PBAC
had recommended Viagra be listed on the national subsidised drug scheme
for men suffering a limited range of physical conditions -- but warned
it could cost taxpayers as much as $100 million a year. These included
impotence related to spinal cord injury and diabetes.
This would make it available at $3.60 (for a course of four) for
concession card holders and $22.40 for general patients. A course
normally retails for around $70 a month.
However Health Minister Senator Kay Patterson last week recommended to
both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Senator Nick Minchin that
the PBAC proposal be rejected. Senator Minchin must be consulted when a
drug has the potential to cost the scheme more than $10 million a year.
Senator Minchin is also understood to be concerned about the potential
cost of the drug.
Blow-outs in the cost of arthritis and anti-smoking drugs increased the
cost of the scheme by close to 20 per cent -- to almost $4 billion --
last year. But the decision was condemned last night by the umbrella
group representing impotent men and the drug industry.
Impotence Australia spokesman Brett McCann said the decision was a ``big
setback for men's health''. ``This is very disappointing because
impotence should be taken seriously, but clearly that's not going to
happen,'' he said. ``This is one way that we could have convinced men to
go and see their doctor, but that opportunity has been lost,'' he said.
Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association executive director
Alan Evans said any ill-founded rejection of a drug proposal was a
concern to the pharmaceutical industry. He said there seemed to be no
supporting evidence for claims of a $100 million blow-out. He said that
in evidence put to the committee, the highest estimate of its yearly
cost was $15 million. ``This figure of $100 million is simply not
supported by the evidence that was put before the PBAC,'' he said. ``The
industry cannot have confidence in the PBAC if it is not going to base
its recommendations on evidence.
See also,
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Pele's Viagra deal hard act to follow
The Australian, Edition 1WED 30 JAN 2002, Page 018 Source: Reuters
PELE is negotiating an advertising deal to convince Brazilian men of the
benefits of the virility drug Viagra.
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc, the world's largest drug-maker, was
drawn to Pele to promote their anti-impotency drug because of his
footballing fame, plus his robust health and high-profile private
life....
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Orgasm pill hits spot for women
The Australian, Edition 1MON 28 JAN 2002, Page 001 Source: The Sunday
Times, London
THE drug company behind Viagra is preparing to launch the first orgasm
pill for women....
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Source: http://www.newstext.com.au/
Reproduced under the fair use doctrine of international copyright law:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
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Dr. Ken Harvey
Board Member, Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd. (http://www.tg.com.au)
Council Member, Australian Consumers Association
(http://www.choice.com.au)
Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health
Room 221, Building HS1 (NW9),
La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Australia,
Telephone +61 3 9479 5773, Facsimile +61 3 9479 1783, Personal mobile
0419 181910,
Internet: http://www-sph.health.latrobe.edu.au/kharvey/
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