Doctors will be advised by the British Medical Association in 10 days' time to prescribe Viagra to all patients who need it, unless the Government issues the guidelines it promised nearly four months ago.
GPs have repeatedly warned that they have been placed in an untenable position by the procrastination of the Department of Health over the availability of the impotence drug on the NHS.
Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, asked doctors in a circular in September not to prescribe Viagra on the NHS pending 'substantive policy proposals'. But many doctors feel they are in danger of breaching their terms of service by refusing patients the treatment they need.
The General Practitioners Committee of the BMA will advise GPs at its next meeting on January 21 that the Department of Health circular is not binding on them, and that they can best comply with their terms of service by prescribing Viagra for men suffering from impotence.
The ultimatum seems to have had no effect on the department, which yesterday reiterated its line that 'we shall shortly issue a substantive policy'. In September, the guidelines were promised within six weeks.
In a letter just before Christmas to Ian Bogle, chairman of the BMA council, Mr Dobson said: 'I can assure you that I have no wish whatsoever to introduce any unnecessary delay into the process of putting forward those proposals. Meantime, our guidance still stands and provides in my view a sensible approach until I have reached final decisions on the way forward.'
But no reason has been given for the lack of decision-making. The Government said in September that it awaited the advice of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, but they reported in October. The committee was thought to recommend that Viagra should be available for the impotent on the NHS, which has also been the advice of the influential Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.
Pfizer, the manufacturers of Viagra, believe ministers have been alarmed by talk last year of a potential £1 billion bill for the drug. But that estimate was far too high, they claim. They say it was based on a price of £10 a tablet, when the recommended price has been set at just under £5, and that it assumed every impotent man would want Viagra, which is not the case.
Mr Dobson has consistently said that the National Institute of Clinical Excellence, which begins work in April, will decide whether new drugs offer value for money and are an improvement on those already available.
phew that will give us guys a rest she's very demanding is mr's huggi as i am sure a lot of you guys on the forum know :Clap:
GPs have repeatedly warned that they have been placed in an untenable position by the procrastination of the Department of Health over the availability of the impotence drug on the NHS.
Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, asked doctors in a circular in September not to prescribe Viagra on the NHS pending 'substantive policy proposals'. But many doctors feel they are in danger of breaching their terms of service by refusing patients the treatment they need.
The General Practitioners Committee of the BMA will advise GPs at its next meeting on January 21 that the Department of Health circular is not binding on them, and that they can best comply with their terms of service by prescribing Viagra for men suffering from impotence.
The ultimatum seems to have had no effect on the department, which yesterday reiterated its line that 'we shall shortly issue a substantive policy'. In September, the guidelines were promised within six weeks.
In a letter just before Christmas to Ian Bogle, chairman of the BMA council, Mr Dobson said: 'I can assure you that I have no wish whatsoever to introduce any unnecessary delay into the process of putting forward those proposals. Meantime, our guidance still stands and provides in my view a sensible approach until I have reached final decisions on the way forward.'
But no reason has been given for the lack of decision-making. The Government said in September that it awaited the advice of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, but they reported in October. The committee was thought to recommend that Viagra should be available for the impotent on the NHS, which has also been the advice of the influential Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.
Pfizer, the manufacturers of Viagra, believe ministers have been alarmed by talk last year of a potential £1 billion bill for the drug. But that estimate was far too high, they claim. They say it was based on a price of £10 a tablet, when the recommended price has been set at just under £5, and that it assumed every impotent man would want Viagra, which is not the case.
Mr Dobson has consistently said that the National Institute of Clinical Excellence, which begins work in April, will decide whether new drugs offer value for money and are an improvement on those already available.
phew that will give us guys a rest she's very demanding is mr's huggi as i am sure a lot of you guys on the forum know :Clap:
