Drugs company Pfizer has given a boost to American workers suffering in the economic downturn , promising that those who have lost their jobs and their health insurance since the start of 2009 can receive free medication, including the popular erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, for up to a year. Thus will make millions of Americans eligible for complimentary medication, which as well as Viagra will cover 70 other medications such as the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor.
As America does not have universal health care, many workers are totally dependent on health care schemes provided through their employers. Therefore when the recent spate of lay-offs hit the States, many workers were not only faced with a loss of income, but the loss of medication that they had been relying on. Pfizer say that their aim is to help people bridge this difficult point in their lives.
It is believed that the scheme will not only earn Pfizer a massive amount of goodwill, but will also help them ensure that patients stay loyal to Pfizer brands. This has become a focus for the company, as a number of patents on their best-selling medications are set to run out soon, paving the way for other manufacturers to offer generic versions at lower prices. Though Viagra is the best-known erectile dysfunction medication, the company are eager to cement their customers’ loyalty, as newer brands like Cialis take a larger part of the ED medication market share.