Only trained doctors may prescribe Viagra<\/p>\n
By Jules Bell<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As Austin Powers the star of his self-titled
\nbox-office hit would say: Viagra keeps you swinging, baby!
\nMedically, it would have to be said the super-stud spy is \"right-
\non\", and that is good news for an estimated six million
\nIndonesian men suffering erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n
From Sept. 4 another 300 Indonesian doctors -- mostly from
\nJakarta -- will be permitted to prescribe Viagra after completing
\na one-day training session here in the capital titled: The
\nManagement of Erectile Dysfunction.<\/p>\n
The famous anti-impotence medication has not been labeled a
\n\"wonder drug\", without very impressive medical results worldwide.
\nHowever, before popping the pills and enjoying their effect,
\nthere are some serious considerations. New in Indonesia, Viagra
\nis still the subject of a six month government monitoring
\nprogram, and has a restricted status.<\/p>\n
For patients, this equates to ensuring a prescribing doctor
\nhas attended a Viagra training session. This is imperative
\naccording to a consensus of medical experts, Ministry of Health
\nregulations and recommendations from the Indonesian Doctors
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
Speaking last Thursday at a press conference held at the
\nFaculty of Medicine, the University of Indonesia, Dr. Daniel
\nMakes said the aim of the September session was to increase the
\ndoctors' knowledge and skill levels in treating erectile
\ndysfunction and to increase the number of doctors permitted to
\nprescribe Viagra.<\/p>\n
\"Viagra was released on Aug. 1,\" he said, \"and most doctors
\nhave no authority yet to prescribe the drug.\"<\/p>\n
The course is part of the Continuing Medical Training for
\nDoctors Program or known by the acronym PKB - Pendidikan
\nKedokteran Berlanjutkan. PKB manages the training of Indonesian
\ndoctors regarding new developments in medicine. The program is
\nalso a joint effort involving the Foundation for the Advancement
\nof Medicine in Indonesia, and the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
After the completion of the training doctors must pass a test
\non the course material, after which they are certified to
\nprescribe Viagra, prescriptions for which bear their PKB number.<\/p>\n
\"This is the same requirement for the prescription of Viagra
\nas in the U.S. and Europe,\" said Dr. Rochani, another member of
\nthe event's organizing committee and University of Indonesia
\nmedical school staff member.<\/p>\n
The doctors attending this latest session will join about
\n1,400 other doctors mostly from Jakarta, having attended the
\nfirst one-day training course in July. Other training sessions
\nhave been conducted throughout Indonesia, and more sessions are
\nscheduled for the future.<\/p>\n
Due to Viagra's present monitoring status, prescription and
\nadministration of the drug is restricted to authorized doctors
\nand licensed pharmacies. Doctors legally permitted to prescribe
\nthe drug are required to complete detailed reports on any side-
\neffects or complications found.<\/p>\n
Viagra has been available on the black market for some time.
\nHowever, this should decrease as more doctors are trained, Dr.
\nRochani said at the conference.<\/p>\n
\"Before there was so much Viagra released onto the black
\nmarket. Now the release of Viagra is more under control. Doctors
\nprescribing the drug are only those with medical education.\"<\/p>\n
The introduction of Viagra into Indonesia is part of a
\ncarefully controlled process. \"Viagra is a safe and effective
\nmedicine,\" said Dr. Rochani, \"but there have been some
\ncomplications with it in the U.S.\" A study there last August
\nfound that random use of Viagra was allegedly linked to the
\ndeaths of 69 Americans in five months. \"We want to be careful
\nhere in Indonesia to ensure that there are as few problems as
\npossible,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Viagra - which works by increasing the blood flow to the
\npenis, necessary for establishing and maintaining an erection -
\nis most dangerous for patients when taken in conjunction with
\nheart and circulation system medication containing nitrates.
\n\"Nitrate heart disease medication is potentiated by Viagra,\"
\nexplained Dr. Rochani.<\/p>\n
Nitrates are vasodilators and therefore an active component of
\ndrugs used for treating high blood pressure and heart disease;
\nthey relax blood vessel walls thereby increasing the diameter of
\nblood vessels and lowering blood pressure. Viagra however,
\nincreases the effect of nitrates, leading to disruption of a
\npatient's blood pressure and a potentially life threatening
\nscenario.<\/p>\n
Patients taking heart medication can simultaneously take
\nViagra Dr. Rochani said, but this must be under careful
\nsupervision.<\/p>\n
Speaking generally about Viagra and associated risks, Dr.
\nMakes explained that \"if used with good monitoring, then there
\nare usually no side effects.\"<\/p>\n
Viagra has been the subject of careful studies over the past
\ntwo years in Jakarta and Surabaya. The results were consistent
\nwith those worldwide said Dr. Rochani, finding that Viagra is
\neffective in approximately 70 percent of cases and shows very few
\nside effects.<\/p>\n
The training session is clearly necessary in the opinion of
\nthe chairman of the Indonesian Erectile Dysfunction Advisory
\nCommittee, urologist Dr. Akmal Taher.<\/p>\n
\"In Indonesia there are a lot of doctors who did not study
\nerectile function during their undergraduate study,\" he said,
\n\"that is why these sessions were suggested by the Indonesian
\nMedical Association which produces the content of the program.\"<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Jakarta Post, Dr. Taher stressed how important
\nit is that doctors are trained correctly.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want patients to come to doctors and ask for Viagra,
\nand have the doctors just prescribe it. That is the worst
\npossible scenario,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another important aim of the training is to ensure that
\ndoctors do not prescribe Viagra in curable impotence cases. \"It
\nis important to seek the cause,\" he said. \"In some 15 to 20
\npercent of patients a curable cause can be found. These kind of
\npatients do not need drugs,\" stressed Dr. Taher.<\/p>\n
Pharmacies are also bound to the regulations and therefore
\nresponsible for ensuring a doctor has attended a Viagra training
\nsession before administering the drug to patients. Prescriptions
\nfor Viagra must bear the treating doctor's PKB number.<\/p>\n
Melawai chemist in the Blok M area is one of Jakarta's
\npharmacies licensed to dispense the drug. \"If you don't have a
\nprescription with a PKB number, then we cannot give you any
\n(Viagra),\" said a staff member at the pharmacy.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/only-trained-doctors-may-prescribe-viagra-1447893297",
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