Viagra not reimbursed in Japan, says MHW
The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare has decided that Pfizer'serectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil) will not be covered by the National Health Insurance when it becomes available later this month. Japanese consumers will therefore have to pay the full price for the drug.
Pfizer's Japanese affiliate is expected to sell the drug with a prescription price of 1,200 yen ($9.91) a tablet, which is in line with its price outside Japan.
Viagra has been treated by the MHW in the same way as nicotine gums for smoking cessation and oral contraceptives which, though not yet officially available for preventing pregnancy, have also been excluded from National Health Insurance coverage.
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