Ireland is about to become one of the few European countries where sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is free under its health service. The minister for health, Brian Cowen, followed advice from an expert panel set up to monitor the prescribing trends and safety of the drug and announced on 20 May that the drug will be available free under the general medical scheme for all patients with medical cards from 1 July.

Other patients will be able to claim back its cost under certain circumstances. …