At present you can only obtain 4 tablets for erectile dysfunction a month from your family doctor. NHS managers want to restrict this practice to two, as a directive from The South Central Priorities Committee for new guidelines to be introduced. This committee covers Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Berkshire East, Berkshire West and Buckinghamshire health trusts.
Suggestions in the paper are made, that doctors should also not offer counselling in regard to sexual problems. The two tablet limit does not just apply to Viagra (sildenafil), but to other prescription impotence medication, such as Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil). The committee report indicates that it has, "considered the evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness and the financial impact on the health economy of treatment for erectile dysfunction". Quite a bit of its evidence has references going back as far as 1998, which is slightly out of date. Actual NHS guidelines on the treatment for this condition says, "There appears to be no clinical reason to restrict the number of tablets" that are prescribed to the sufferer. Viagra and its like have always been on a limited prescribing list with the NHS, being available for patients diagnosed with diabetes, polio, MS, Parkinson’s disease, spinal injury, spina bifida and prostate cancer. As to the counselling being removed from the treatment list, it is said that there is ‘Limited evidence for effectiveness and no evidence of cost effectiveness.’ So therapies like psychosexual interventions are also for the chop. In a statement regarding various guidelines proposed by NHS Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire it said the committee "cannot prohibit prescribing but will form a recommendation to GPs." Yet again the NHS seems to cut spending costs with detriment to the patient. Regulated use of these medications that help the wellbeing of the sufferer must be better than buying suspect pills over the internet. This in the long run could cause more of a burden on the NHS, incurring unnecessary costs for ailments that could be avoided. Take our free online consultation for erectile dysfunction here |