Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : PFE (Pfizer) How high will it go? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (5635)	9/19/1998 10:47:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9523

BBC: Doctors' concern about Viagra Saturday, September 19, 1998 Published at 22:06 GMT 23:06 UK Some estimate Viagra may cost NHS up to œ1bn GPs have called for extra resources to cope with what they predict will be an enormous demand for the anti-impotence drug, Viagra. The Royal College of General Practitioners said they had "grave concerns" about being able to deliver what is needed. Its president, Dr John Toby, said: "The college believes the debate about resources is a matter for the government and the public. But we are concerned about being able to deliver what is needed unless additional resource are made available." Dr Toby said it could lead to 540 extra consultations at a single practice in one year - or 10 more cases a week for each GP to deal with. He said GPs had no way of knowing how many men would come forward asking for Viagra. Using a typical practice with 10,000 patients, he said about 360 men would suffer from erectile dysfunction. Initial surge He said: "If we pluck the figure of 50% of these men seeking treatment out of thin air, that's 180 men presenting themselves for assessment. This would involve three consultations each, at least one prolonged, and with a partner." The GPs said demand in America had tailed off, so it might be wrong to think that demand here would continue after an initial surge. The doctors said they believed Viagra should be available on the NHS for those with "clinical" needs. But they said the government had overlooked other effective treatments for impotence already on the market. The RCGP committee said it favoured GPs prescribing the drug, with the choice of seeking specialist help from hospital consultants. It also predicted that NHS costs for the drug would not reach "maximum" limits. Estimates of costs range from between œ50m a year to suggestions of œ1bn. news.bbc.co.uk