Viagra Corner: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Medicine
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FAMILY DOCTORS will be advised to carry on prescribing Viagra on the NHS by their professional body if Frank Dobson, Secretary of State for Health, fails to lift a ban on the anti-impotence drug within a month.
Following fears that the NHS would not be able to afford to meet demand for the drug, ministers ordered doctors in September to stop prescribing the drug on the NHS.
The British Medical Association's GP committee decided last night to give Mr Dobson a month in which to produce new advice, or they will issue their own guidance to GPs to carry on prescribing Viagra on the NHS.
The BMA is concerned that the ban, imposed by Mr Dobson on 14 September, breaks GPs' terms of contract to provide care on the NHS.
"We discussed issuing advice today but we gave Mr Dobson another month. Our advice is to ignore the Government's guidance and to carry on prescribing Viagra where clinically appropriate," said a BMA source.
The Department of Health expects to release fresh guidance in January which is likely to allow GPs to carry on prescribing.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments