Viagra hits the market with limitations<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After a three-month delay, the \"wonder pill\"
\nViagra, as it frequently dubbed, will finally be sold here --
\nwith several restrictions -- starting in August, at the price of
\nUS$10 per tablet.<\/p>\n
The drug can be prescribed by any doctor who has completed a
\none-day training session on erectile dysfunction and its
\nprevention organized by the Indonesian Medical Association.<\/p>\n
In March, the Ministry of Health's Director General of Drugs
\nand Food Supervision Sampurno approved Viagra's marketing here,
\nbut it could only be prescribed by medical specialists, such as
\nurologists, internists, cardiologists and doctors working at
\nmedical clinics specializing in impotency.<\/p>\n
Sampurno said the new regulation was carefully made and he
\ndismissed speculation about possible abuse of the pills.<\/p>\n
He explained the change was made following recommendations by
\nthe medical association, saying that 80 percent of erectile
\ndysfunction cases were treated by general physicians and not
\nspecialists.<\/p>\n
The recommendation was then brought to the National Committee
\nof Drug Evaluation, which later agreed that general physicians
\ncould prescribe the drug only after completing the training.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, the urologists themselves, only about 100 of them,
\nsaid that they could not handle those with erectile dysfunction
\nalone,\" Sampurno told The Jakarta Post by phone on Monday.<\/p>\n
At present, it is estimated there are around six million
\npeople suffering from erectile dysfunction across the country.<\/p>\n
Sampurno said the ministry would also monitor the drug within
\na six-month evaluation period to prevent any abuse.<\/p>\n
Viagra, which restores a man's ability to respond naturally to
\nsexual stimulation, is a strong medicine only effective for those
\nsuffering from impotency and is not recommended for people
\nsuffering from certain diseases, such as hypertension, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Viagra is not to be used for fun. With the monitoring system,
\nwe expect there will be no abuse of the pill,\" Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
Viagra's local manufacturer, PT Pfizer Indonesia Tbk., is
\nrequired to prepare an information sheet on the drug, including
\nits side effects, for doctors and related medical workers. The
\ninformation sheet is approved by the Ministry of Health's
\ndirectorate general of drugs and food supervision.<\/p>\n
Every month, the manufacturer is also required to report the
\nmonitoring results of Viagra's side effects, supply and
\ndistribution to the directorate general.<\/p>\n
Apart from following the training, doctors should report any
\nfindings of the drug's side effects to the ministry.<\/p>\n
The first training session in Jakarta was held last Saturday
\nat the Hotel Mulia Senayan and was attended by around 1,200
\ndoctors.<\/p>\n
The medical association's chairman, Merdias Almatsier, said
\nthe training program materials were prepared with guidance from
\nthe Indonesian Erectile Dysfunction Advisory and Training
\nCouncil.<\/p>\n
He added that other medical institutions could also hold
\nsimilar training courses after receiving accreditation from the
\nassociation. Accredited institutions will be able to train
\ndoctors with materials and guidance provided by the association.<\/p>\n
Merdias said the training was held with the serious intention
\nof preventing the abuse of the drug.<\/p>\n
For instance, doctors were not allowed to simply register and
\nthen be given certificates without completing the whole session,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"Doctors are required to follow the whole session,\" Merdias
\nsaid after opening the training program here. \"By attending the
\nwhole session, they will get clear information and treat those
\nwith erectile dysfunction well and rationally.\"<\/p>\n
The names of doctors participating in the training session
\nwould then be delivered to the Ministry of Health before being
\ngiven to pharmacies that provide Viagra (sildenafil citrate).<\/p>\n
After Jakarta, similar training sessions will be held this
\nmonth in Medan, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya and Denpasar.<\/p>\n
Every pharmacy is required to make a written request to the
\ndistributor before being able to get the drug.<\/p>\n
And under the ministry's regulation, pharmacists themselves
\nmust personally give the drug to customers and provide them with
\naccurate information. The pharmacies are also required to record
\nall sales of Viagra.<\/p>\n
Since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in
\nMarch last year, more than 11 million Viagra prescriptions have
\nbeen written globally. It is now available in more than 70
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
But here, Viagra -- which works by increasing the blood flow
\nto the penis necessary for establishing and maintaining an
\nerection -- has been found in many places long before its
\nofficial marketing, at prices ranging between Rp 90,000 and Rp
\n125,000.<\/p>\n
Pfizer acknowledged the situation and pledged to compete with
\nthe illegal distributors.<\/p>\n
\"If the rupiah keeps strengthening, we can compete much
\nbetter,\" the company's pharmaceutical director Simon Tobing told
\njournalists during a press education forum last Thursday.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, Pfizer will provide 25 milligram and 50
\nmilligram Viagra pills directly imported from the U.S., while
\nmost illegal distributors sell 100 milligram pills. It will start
\nproducing the drug here after evaluating the market's response.<\/p>\n
Although the company regards Indonesia as a potential market,
\nin its initial marketing here the company does not expect to reap
\na huge profit, but said it was focusing more on education
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
\"Many (erectile dysfunction patients) do not have the
\nawareness to consult doctors about their problem yet,\" Simon
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"From about six million people suffering from erectile
\ndysfunction, only about 10 percent of them consult doctors.
\nOthers live with their problem, while others try to find a
\nsolution on their own,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The company's marketing director, Noko Sumanto, says that
\nerectile dysfunction is now a well-known common medical
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
\"It is no more a social stigma and there's no need to hide
\nyourself away... it's ok to talk about it.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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