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Biotech / Medical : Pharma News Only (pfe,mrk,wla, sgp, ahp, bmy, lly) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (404)	6/24/1998 2:33:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 1722

BBC - Viagra for the masses Wednesday, June 24, 1998 Published at 16:19 GMT 17:19 UK A Brazilian mayor is placing his town's future in the hands of Viagra The mayor of a Brazilian town is giving out free Viagra in an effort to increase the population and bring in more government funding. Elcio Berti, mayor of Bocaiuva do Sul in the progressive southern state of Parana, has spent $35,000 on the impotence wonder drug which has hit the headlines around the world. Mr Berti is known in Brazil for his unconventional attempts to increase his town's population. In November, he tried to ban condoms and the pill. However, the ban was overturned by the government which said it was unconstitutional. Mr Berti has more confidence in the Viagra giveaway. He says he is following the law. He is hoping to meet the doctors from the Department of Health to see if he can set up special health sessions for men interested in taking the drug. He also says he can guarantee the drug does not go into the pockets of outsiders. His commitment to the plan goes as far as distributing the drug personally. After all, Mr Berti claims to know 90% of the town's 10,000 residents. "I don't expect any outsiders will get free medicine because I know my residents," he told O Globo newspaper. Investigation He has not made clear how he obtained the drug. Opposition politicians say they will ensure the matter is investigated. If Mr Berti has used public funds, he will be taken to court, they say. The amount of money Bocaiuva do Sul gets from the government's Municipal Participation Fund has been falling over recent months. The town has been told it is likely to suffer a 33% funding cut in the next month. Mr Berti says this is linked to the town's population. The state health department says Mr Berti's plan is fine as long as men who take the drug are given health checks and told of the dangers of combining the drug with other medicines. But it has bad news for Mr Berti. Viagra only treats impotence. It does not increase fertility.