Pfizer Offers Free Medication To Unemployed Or Uninsured Patients
It's hard for journalists (and bloggers) to resist a story that they can entitle "Free Viagra," and pharmaceutical company Pfizer knows it. This recent publicity stunt is still newsworthy even without that headline, because of its purpose, and the problem for drug companies that it illustrates.
Pfizer, like most of the big drug companies, already has a variety of assistance programs for people who have trouble affording Pfizer drugs. For more information about such programs, visit the Prescription Assistance Program site.
So why start a new program for the newly unemployed? Most people don't now about assistance programs, and those who never expected to find themselves without insurance may be grateful for the new publicity. Also, makers of pricey brand-name drugs are suffering in the current economic climate.
The Chicago Tribune notes:
Pfizer's program comes at a time when many drugmakers, including Pfizer, have been raising prices on their drugs, partly to offset declines in revenue as the global recession reduces the number of prescriptions people can afford to fill.The 70-plus drugs covered in the program include several diabetes drugs and some of Pfizer's top money makers, from cholesterol fighter Lipitor and painkiller Celebrex to fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica and Viagra for impotence. Drugs from several other popular classes such as antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal treatments, heart medications, contraceptives and smoking cessation products also are included. Cheaper generic versions are available for quite a few of the drugs.
It's worth pointing out again that yes, many of these drugs are available as generics, or there are similar generic medications that treat the same issue.
Prescription Assistance Program
Pfizer offers free Viagra, Lipitor and other drugs to uninsured, jobless Americans [Chicago Tribune] (Thanks, HiPwr!)
(Photo: mundolaura)
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Comments:
I'm sorry, but if you can't afford your medication, why should you get Viagara for free? I can get behind just about any other drug out there, but a purely sexual recreational drug seems silly to offer for free.
There's a great website called the "Partnership for Prescription Assistance" that's actually been put together by the major drug companies. The website is [www.pparx.com.] I used it when I was uninsured while in college in order to get some prescriptions I needed. You can type in what drugs you're taking and it will tell you what options you have for getting the drugs at a discount or even for free. Most of the major drug companies have programs for people with low incomes or no insurance (or both of course) that allow you to get stuff free. There are some hoops to jump through, but it works great.
I had to use this service for some medication I was on for migraines (Relpax). It would've been about $250/month for me to pay for myself, but I was able to get it for free from the manufacturer.
@Donathius: I'm pretty sure thats the one Montel Williams endorses and he is generally well respected.
The "Prescription Assistance Program" PPARx, (courtesy of the Pharmaceutical Industry's muscular lobbying arm PhRMA) is little more than a marketing tactic itself. Its purpose is not to help people, but to create goodwill towards the name-brand companies that fund it and keep government regulation as far away as possible.
Let's not forget that PhRMA is run by Billy Tauzin, former Louisiana Congressman who, before becoming an industry shill, was a major player in getting the 2003 Medicare bill passed.
This site: [www.needymeds.org] has been around much longer and is much more comprehensive than the industry-funded PPARx.
Some of these programs do offer a lot of help. They are kind of swamped these days, though.
I personally have used one of the programs though Pfizer (specifically the Connection to Care program). While it is great if you qualify to receive the free meds, it sucks to have to go to a doctor as self pay with no insurance. The worst is the doctors wanting to see you every month to three months at a 100 bucks a pop just to see how you are doing on the drugs for 5-10 min.
this is a big part of my job these days. [NOT FOR PFIZER] I work for a pharmaceutical company that makes long term therapy for a couple of chronic conditions and my job is to call people who take our medications and ask them how they are.
the majority of my calls lately involve getting people signed up for financial assistance because they [or their spouses or both] have lost jobs, insurance benefits have been cut, etc.
it makes me sad to have to do it, but it makes me feel glad that when my patients say 'i lost my job and now i have to decide between my medicine and feeding my kids' i can say 'wait, we have a plan for that!'
@catastrophegirl - manic first time home buyer: That's why you're a better person than I.
I'd have to ask, "How naughty have your children been this month" before proceeding further.
I've been waiting for an opportunity to be all witty and clever, should Viagra ever be proven unsafe and taken off the market. Headline: Viagra Falls.
I guess I'll just have to hold on to that gem.
It's a magical promotion clearly derived from the sweat of gods' brow residing in Olympus:
Unemployed have more leisure time. Now they have something to occupy themselves for hours at a time!