Here’s one way to pump up the economy.
Drugmaker Pfizer announced today that it will provide 70 of its most widely prescribed drugs — including the wonder-drug Viagra — for free to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance during the recession.
The world’s biggest drugmaker said it will give away the little blue pills, and other medicine, for up to a year to any American who lost their job starting on Jan. 1 and had been taking the Pfizer drug for three months or more.
The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession.
“Everybody knows now a neighbor, a relative who has lost their job and is losing their insurance. People are definitely hurting out there,” Dr. Jorge Puente, Pfizer’s head of pharmaceuticals, told The Associated Press.
“Our aim is to help people bridge this point.”
Those interested in getting free drugs will have to sign a statement that they are suffering financial hardship and provide a pink slip from their employer.
Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, with medication provided for up to 12 months after approval — or until the person becomes insured again.
The program comes at a time when many drugmakers, including Pfizer, have raised prices on their drugs to offset declines in revenue as the recession reduces the number of prescriptions people can afford to fill.