The United States pharmaceutical giant make the announcement late on tuesday, saying it had received authorisation from British regulator following a public consultation.
Britain is to become the first country in the world where the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil will be bought without the need for a doctor’s prescription from 2018, its maker Pfizer said.
The hope is that men who haven’t antecedently sought-after assistance will currently be more likely to try to to so, though men with heart issues or taking “interfering medicines” can still want a prescription to get sildenafil.
Officials conjointly hope that the choice can avoid purchases of viagra on websites operating illegally. “This call is good news for men’s health,” aforesaid mick Foy, group manager in vigilance and risk management of medicines at the Medicines and healthcare products regulatory authority.
“The move to create viagra Connect additional wide accessible can encourage men to seek facilitate within the healthcare system and increase awareness of male erecticle dysfunction,” he said.
Berkeley Phillips, Great Britain medical director at Pfizer, said: “We understand some men might avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, therefore we believe giving them the choice to speak to a pharmacist and purchase viagra Connect might be a true breakthrough.”