Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why the NHS funds viagra?

129 replies

crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:01

Yes only men who are impotent due to medical problems get viagra on the NHS. But last year there were nearly 3 million prescriptions issued for viagra. Is this really the best use of NHS money?

OP posts:
HeedMove · 05/06/2018 23:05

I know plenty of women on HRT who have been on it for years. My mum is now in her 11th year as she was prescribed at 50 and is now 61.

Siwel is that study also including pre and ante natal care and birth. If so, its obvious women would be higher since we cant ask men to do it. Yet.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:05

Again look at my graph as well.
It still proves the point of that women actually get more then men spent on health. That's the opposite of what you said.
So would you take your statement back that women's health is less prioritised then men's. And is treated lesser then men's?

Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 23:06

Heedmove Well they should not be. That is totally against NICE guidelines because it increases the risk of dying prematurely. So their GP is wrong to do that.

OP posts:
siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:08

Again the graph has 10 points where women's health is higher then males and 8when men is higher then females.

I don't want to get into a debate on male vs female healthcare.
I think YABU for saying men shouldn't be given Vista on the NHS.

Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 23:08

Siwel Your graph shows that slightly more is spent on women during childbearing years, and more is spent on men the rest of the years. Childbirth is very expensive.

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 05/06/2018 23:10

I think YABU for saying men shouldn't be given Vista on the NHS

Anyone who can afford to buy their medication should be doing so rather than letting the NHS take the burden. And that goes for men/women.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:11

A report I just read states that until the ages of 55 women get more spent on average. And then after that men do. So I admit after 55 there's a health gap.

But again this don't the thread topic. I think YABU for saying men shouldn't have Ghagra and should pay it.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:12

@jacquesHAmmer. I kinda agree with you on that. As long as it's equal. So every female who can pay, pays and every male who can pay, pays

JacquesHammer · 05/06/2018 23:13

@siwel123 absolutely. As I said up thread that’s what I’m doing despite qualifying for a medical exemption

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:14

Yay we agree Grin on something at least Grin.

BitOfAKerfuffle · 05/06/2018 23:17

Anything that can be bought over the counter and doesn't need to be okayed by a doctor should be paid for by female, male and child. None of this 'Oh did you not know you can get a prescription for Calpol, piriton etc' coming from parents who aparently can't afford medication for their children but seem to be able to afford the 40 quid to get their nails done every few weeks.
The nhs isn't an endless pot of money and we should all be taking more responsibility for it

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:23

So all meds that don't need a doctor's note need to paid for is what you want? I kinda agree yeah.

Should there be a minimum you earn before you do not pay do you think?

Athena18 · 05/06/2018 23:23

Once heard a doctor say that when he treats erectile dysfunction he is treating two patients.

Gwenhwyfar · 05/06/2018 23:24

"Yes only men who are impotent due to medical problems get viagra on the NHS."

Not true any more. Men with ED caused by psychological issues can always get it. As others have said, probably cheaper in the long run than treating depression.

TSSDNCOP · 05/06/2018 23:25

As long as it's equal. So every female who can pay, pays and every male who can pay, pays

But where does that stop? In theory, I could afford to pay for a hip replacement. Are you going to start saying all treatment should be means tested?

BitOfAKerfuffle · 05/06/2018 23:35

Just medications for now that can be bought over the counter in a chemist is what I'm talking about. Of course not for operations etc because those are expensive and surely that would mean there needs to be means testing of some sort and why should you pay 30 grand for your hip replacement because you have worked hard and saved when someone else would get it for free because they never bothered to get a job and lived off benefits.
But I reckon if everyone paid for their otc medications. There's generic versions of most stuff thats not expensive then that would be a huge cost taken off the nhs.
Just the other week a woman in the chemist handed in a script and got handed back a Canesten combi treatment. Now why should that have been paid for by the nhs and not by the woman herself ? I never buy canesten either I just always ask the pharmacist can I buy the generic version of canesten which is much cheaper but no the nhs is paying for the brand name canesten it would seem ? How many other things are unnecessarily being funded ?

BitOfAKerfuffle · 05/06/2018 23:38

Viagra can be bought otc so therefore it should be however some other medications aren't licensed for otc sales and rightly so and the doctor should ultimately decide what is right for the patient in that situation and prescribe them a safe option. I'm not suggesting everyone goes in and starts buying insulin and morphine and heart tablets because that wouldn't be very safe!

BitOfAKerfuffle · 05/06/2018 23:42

I'm also not rich before anyone suggests that. We are on a fairly low income and tight budget and don't have a lot of extra expenditure but id rather gather together the money for medications now and be able to avail of free healthcare for more major or life threatening issues in the future but if it continues on the way it's going now without more money going in then there won't be an nhs as we know it to treat us for free when we really are in need of expensive operations and treatments etc

KarmaStar · 05/06/2018 23:51

Ridiculous post

loobywench · 06/06/2018 00:04

My partner is prescribed these as his testosterone level is very low. Hopefully when it reaches normal level he won't need them any more.Getting 4 a month is not a lot and he buys his own also

fawkesAgain2 · 06/06/2018 02:13

I can't believe people are bothering to respond to the GFer.

@crunchymint - who hurt you and made you so bitter? Was it the patriarchy?

CheshireChat · 06/06/2018 03:04

I'm very amused I'm getting a canesten ad now.

YABU saying men shouldn't get Viagra, but the dr should encourage them within reason to buy their own. I think it's hard enough to acknowledge you have a sexual health issue and they shouldn't be made to feel a burden, but make them aware it's available OTC and cheap as I bet some men won't even ask and think they require a prescription.

YANBU that female sexual health is routinely ignored and that it should be much more of a priority, however I sincerely doubt that by not funding Viagra you'd get funds redirected. We'd probably be seen as less of a priority as the men wouldn't have any use for us, sad but true. An overhaul is sorely needed if the birth injuries threads are anything to go by.

Also sex therapists should be available for both genders as what happens when the little blue pill doesn't have the desired effect?

moredoll · 06/06/2018 03:18

So people can have sex.

abbsisspartacus · 06/06/2018 04:04

Yes women don't need penetrative sex but if I didn't want it I wouldn't be in a relationship with a man

You shouldn't just be able to buy it otc without seeing a doctor first personally I think doctors should be able to write permissions slips for items cheaper otc so the pharmacy can sell them the product for example people still get paracetamol in 100 bottles on prescription it would be easier to write a slip granting permission for them to buy 100 over the counter

But that's a simple workable idea that would cost pennies to implement save time money and effort and therfore would not be considered by anyone

9amTrain · 06/06/2018 05:02

Because it is a medical problem and that's what the NHS is for...