Manchester, U.K.
A British pharmacy chain began selling Viagra over the counter this week, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Boots pharmacy requires men who want the erectile-dysfunction drug to spend an hour in consultation with a pharmacist, who will check blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Even so, patients can receive only four pills that way. For refills, they’ll need a prescription. The program will be tested in Manchester for six months before possibly expanding to the rest of England. Some doctors expressed concern, noting that sexual dysfunction can be an indicator of a serious condition, such as diabetes. Treating the symptom with Viagra could lead men to ignore the disease.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
October 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being releasedThe Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
