VIC: Veterans happy with subsidised viagra deal

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-1999
VIC: Veterans happy with subsidised viagra deal

By Heather Gallagher

MELBOURNE, Aug 11 AAP - The agony of war-related impotence is no joke to Australia's
veterans who were today celebrating the federal government's decision to subsidise Viagra for
returned servicemen.

Both the Returned Services League (RSL) and the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
(VVAA) have been lobbying for cheaper access to the impotence drug since it became available
in Australia last September.

Today Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Scott announced a $4 million a year program enabling
up to 4,000 veterans who suffered impotence because of war service injuries or problems to
gain access to Viagra.

They will pay $3.20 for four tablets, compared to the normal cost of around $80.

"We're very happy with the outcome," RSL national president Major General Peter Phillips
told AAP.

"I was a bit sceptical but I've had some fellows talk very emotionally about the subject,
particularly the difficulty they've had."

He said veterans would only be able to get the drug via prescription and he was now
satisfied doctors were informed of the potential problems, such as heart attacks, and would
not prescribe inappropriately and without proper warnings.

"It's not available as a recreational drug for any old fellow who thinks it's worth a try,"
he said.

"It will only be released when a man presents with impotence with a medical condition."

National president of the VVAA, Clive Mitchell-Taylor, said men at risk of impotence were
those who suffered diabetes, hypertension, spinal injuries or prostate surgery.

"Veterans are in the high risk group for all those," he said.

Self-esteem was also a problem, with Vietnam veterans committing suicide 20 per cent more
often than the rest of the population.

"It you can raise the self-esteem of veterans by giving them back a part of their normal
life they thought they'd lost you're going a long way to improving their quality of life," he
said.

Pfizer Australia, the drug company which distributes Viagra nationally, also expressed
delight with today's anouncement.

"We welcome the reimbursement plan announced by the Minister, Bruce Scott, which ensures
that Australia's veterans - who have served their country with distinction - will have fair
and equitable access to Viagra," said chief executive Dudley Schleier.

AAP hmg/ra/shb

KEYWORD: VIAGRA VETERANS RSL

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