Free Lipitor, Viagra, other drugs for jobless

[PosterChild]

By LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer Linda A. Johnson, Ap Business Writer – 21 mins ago

TRENTON, N.J. – Pfizer Inc. says it will provide 70 of its most widely prescribed prescription drugs — including Lipitor and Viagra — for free to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance.

The world's biggest drugmaker said Thursday it will give away the medicines for up to a year to Americans who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more.

The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession and a campaign in Washington to rein in health care costs and extend coverage. The move could earn Pfizer some goodwill in that debate after long being a target of critics of drug industry prices and sales practices.

The program also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer brands.

"Everybody knows now a neighbor, a relative who has lost their job and is losing their insurance. People are definitely hurting out there," Dr. Jorge Puente, Pfizer's head of pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. and Europe and a champion of the project, told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Wednesday. "Our aim is to help people bridge this point."

The idea for the program came just five weeks ago, at a leadership training meeting, as the workers discussed how many patients are struggling, Puente said.

He said he urged top management to approve the program, presenting a recent Associated Press article about how newly uninsured diabetics are suffering serious complications because they can no longer afford the medicines and testing supplies. Approval came quickly.

"It was my idea," he said. "I floated it, and the reception it got was so dramatic that it very quickly became our idea."

Colleagues suggested employees could donate to a fund to help support the effort, Puente said. He said some employees had tears in their eyes when discussing how they could help people who had lost jobs.

Officials for New York-based Pfizer said they don't know how much the program will cost and haven't put a cap on spending for it.

Applicants will have to sign a statement that they are suffering financial hardship and provide a "pink slip" or similar employer notice. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, with medication provided for up to 12 months after approval — or until the person becomes insured again.

Starting Thursday, patients can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400, to sign up, and those whose drugs are not included in the program will be referred to other company aid programs. Starting July 1, patients can also apply through the Web site, http://www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com, which has information about the other Pfizer aid programs.

Pfizer and the rest of the drug industry are trying to have a voice in the debate over how to overhaul the U.S. health care system, partly by joining in a pledge this week to help hold down inflation of health costs.

"There's a long-term benefit there, beyond the goodwill and the publicity," said David Heupel, health care portfolio manager at Thrivent Large Cap Growth Fund. "Pfizer is trying to maintain their (market) share, if not grow their share" by keeping people from switching to generic versions of its drugs to save money.

"If you're already taking medication that's working, typically doctors don't push to change it," Heupel said.

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 mediations, contraceptives and smoking cessation products also are included. Cheaper generic versions are available for quite a few of the drugs.

Pfizer said that from 2004 through 2008, its patient assistance programs helped 5.1 million people get 51 million Pfizer prescriptions for free or at reduced cost, with a total value of $4.8 billion.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090514/...zer_free_drugs

[PosterChild]

It's a profit thing!

[sacase]

Great, allow people who can't support themselves to reproduce and increase that tax burden on the rest of us. I can understand drugs to control blood pressure and other things, but viagra is not needed.

[JBond]

Obama was going to fire the CEO of Pfizer if they didn't do it. Then he planed to hand control of the company over to a union he is beholden to.

[PosterChild]

Originally Posted by JBond

Obama was going to fire the CEO of Pfizer if they didn't do it. Then he planed to hand control of the company over to a union he is beholden to.

Do tell. Got any more?

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by sacase

Great, allow people who can't support themselves to reproduce and increase that tax burden on the rest of us. I can understand drugs to control blood pressure and other things, but viagra is not needed.

Contraceptives?

[JBond]

Originally Posted by PosterChild

Do tell. Got any more?

Sorry to mislead. it was sarcasm.......

[JBond]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

Contraceptives?

Those are free already. Just go to your locally run government clinic or any grade school nurse and you can get them. Paid in full by the tax payer.

[PosterChild]

Originally Posted by JBond

Sorry to mislead. it was sarcasm.......

I was unsure..haha

[JBond]

Originally Posted by PosterChild

I was unsure..haha

I thought I had a good idea who Obama was and so far I have been right. The thing that has surprised me is how he is doing what he is doing. The methods he is employing and the lack of outcry is shocking to me. The radical reformation of our country with barely a whisper is very disturbing to say the least.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by JBond

Those are free already. Just go to your locally run government clinic or any grade school nurse and you can get them. Paid in full by the tax payer.

I think you missed the point, or maybe you did not and you wanted to continue the sarcasm.

Either way it is a good point that was made that just because someone is taking viagra it does not mean it has to mean more babies.

That still falls to personal responsibility of the person using it.