Erectile dysfunction drugs restricted on NHS

pharmafile | December 9, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing Cialis, ED, Levitra, NHS, PCTs, viagra 

Health authorities in England are restricting the use of erectile dysfunction drugs to help cut costs.

Pfizer’s Viagra, Lilly’s Cialis and Bayer/GSK’s Levitra have all been restricted to just two doses a month, whereas before there were no limitations. 

This is according to a recent committee meeting of five south central primary health care trusts, which includes Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire East and Berkshire West. 

The committee notes that the effectiveness of the three ED drugs are comparable, but adds that Viagra “has been shown to be cost effective,” meaning it would rather this drug was prescribed ahead the others.   

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The committee points out that Viagra 50mg (sildenafil) costs £21.27 for a four-tablet pack.

This is compared to the lower dose forms of Cialis (tadalafil) 20mg, which costs much more at £26.99 for four tablets, and Levitra (vardenafil) 20mg, which costs £23.48.

A spokesperson from Pfizer told Pharmafocus: “Treatment on the NHS for ED is limited to men with certain conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and prostate cancer, and research quoted by the NHS indicates that men aged between 40 and 60 have sex once a week.

“On that basis, the proposal to restrict treatment from four tablets per month to two, significantly reduces the availability of ED treatment for men in the UK.

“A significant number of men in the UK turn to illicit sources to obtain ED medicines. Limiting access to treatment could serve to increase this illegal trade. Purchase of prescription only medicines, without a prescription and without the guidance of a healthcare professional poses significant health risks.”

Doctors working in these areas can decide not to follow the restrictions, but will be under pressure to do so as the health bodies look to make large savings as part of the QIPP programme.

It has also decided to cut back on psychosexual interventions  – such as counselling and psychotherapy – as they have “limited evidence for effectiveness and cost effectiveness”. 

This decision forms part of an ongoing pattern that has seen PCTs squeezing the drugs bill in an effort to save money.

Earlier this year many NHS health bodies were found to have ‘red lists’ of highly priced drugs that PCTs were advising should not be prescribed if alternative treatments could be found. 

Ben Adams 

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