‘Excessive’ NHS Viagra bill

Welsh Conservatives have questioned the ‘excessive’ cost to the NHS of erectile dysfunction drugs, such as Viagra.

According to figures obtained by Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar AM, there was a 59 per cent rise in the cost of the drugs between 2006/07 and 2010/11; from 4.6 million pounds to 7.3 million.

Over the last five years the drugs cost Welsh taxpayers almost 30 million pounds. The cost of Viagra (or Sildenafil) alone was 14.85 million.

At 6.4 million pounds, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spent the most on erectile dysfunction drugs. At 1.1 million pounds, the least amount of public money was spent in Powys.

Mr Millar said:

“There has been a significant increase in the costs associated with these drugs and we need guarantees that this is purely for medical reasons.

“In the past, there have been indications that drugs like Viagra are often used for recreational purposes and it’s absolutely essential that public money is not used to fund that trend.

“Given Labour has decided not to prioritise health and the NHS budget is being severely cut in Wales, taxpayers will rightly question these figures and seek assurances from the health minister.

“Erectile dysfunction remains a serious condition and treatment should clearly be prescribed under the appropriate conditions.

“The excessive bill we see here is a cause for concern however, and the prescribing of Viagra and similar drugs should be properly monitored.”