Free Viagra for Jobless

With tears in their eyes, Pfizer participants at a leadership training meeting decided to institute a program to provide free Viagra to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance.

OK, I'm, being a tad facetious (but only a tad):

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.

...

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.

The article goes on to mention some of the drugs included in the program, you know, other than Viagra (emphasis mine):

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.

I took the liberty to select a few drugs that I think will be of interest to you:

• Cytotec® (misoprostol)

• Depo-Provera® (medroxyprogesterone acetate)
• depo-subQ provera 104™ (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension)

• Diflucan® (fluconazole)
• Flagyl® (metronidazole)
• Zithromax® (azithromycin)

• Estring® (estradiol vaginal ring)
• Provera® (medroxyprogesterone acetate)

(sorry, no direct link; go here, click on "Search by medicine", click on, say, D then Depo-Provera, then click on "Get your results" to get to the applications page)

I hope these drugs will be covered under the new free drugs program but, for now, Pfizer has two patient assistance programs for these meds, Connection to Care and Pfizer Pfriends.