§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NICE to consider Viagra and its availability by NHS prescription. [22764]
§ Ms BlearsWe have no plans to refer impotence treatments, including Viagra, to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We recently announced that arrangements introduced in 1999 restricting the eligibility for these treatments on the national health service will continue. The extra cost of allowing unrestricted prescribing is likely to involve diversion of funds from other NHS priorities.