The Pentagon Spent Over 1/2 million dollars on Viagra
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 3:14 pm
The Department of Defense (DoD) spent more than a half a million dollars on the male enhancement drug Viagra last year, according to government contracts.
The Pentagon issued 60 contracts worth $504,816 for the drug in 2014. All 60 contracts were awarded to Cardinal Health Inc., a pharmaceutical distribution company based in Dublin, Ohio.
Last year DoD also ordered $3,505 worth of Levitra, and $14,540 of Cialis, other popular erectile dysfunction drugs.
The contracts were filed under “Troop Support.”
DoD began offering Viagra to soldiers as a medical benefit in 1998, when the drug cost $10 a pill. Due to inflation, one pill now costs $25. At the time the military’s policy only allowed for six pills a month per patient, and the DoD said they would “not replace lost or stolen pills.”
“Defense guidelines allow military physicians to prescribe Viagra only after a thorough evaluation indicates the medication as the optimal regimen for the patient,” a release outlining the Pentagon’s policy said. “Patients prescribed Viagra also receive careful guidelines for taking the medication. According to defense health officials, Viagra side effects may include headaches, flushing of the face or chest, indigestion, nasal congestion and mild vision impairment.”
“There’s also no guarantee Viagra will work,” DoD added.
Viagra is still covered by TRICARE, the military’s health insurance system, as well as “External vacuum appliances,” or penis pumps, “penile implants and testicular prostheses,” and hormone injections to treat Erectile Dysfunction.
According to a Washington Free Beacon analysis, at $25 a pill, the amount of Viagra purchased by the Pentagon could have led to up to 80,770 hours, 33 minutes, and 36 seconds of sexual enhancement, assuming that no erection lasted more than the medically advised 4 hour maximum.
http://freebeacon.com/issues/pentagon-spent-504816-on-viagra-last-year/
The Pentagon issued 60 contracts worth $504,816 for the drug in 2014. All 60 contracts were awarded to Cardinal Health Inc., a pharmaceutical distribution company based in Dublin, Ohio.
Last year DoD also ordered $3,505 worth of Levitra, and $14,540 of Cialis, other popular erectile dysfunction drugs.
The contracts were filed under “Troop Support.”
DoD began offering Viagra to soldiers as a medical benefit in 1998, when the drug cost $10 a pill. Due to inflation, one pill now costs $25. At the time the military’s policy only allowed for six pills a month per patient, and the DoD said they would “not replace lost or stolen pills.”
“Defense guidelines allow military physicians to prescribe Viagra only after a thorough evaluation indicates the medication as the optimal regimen for the patient,” a release outlining the Pentagon’s policy said. “Patients prescribed Viagra also receive careful guidelines for taking the medication. According to defense health officials, Viagra side effects may include headaches, flushing of the face or chest, indigestion, nasal congestion and mild vision impairment.”
“There’s also no guarantee Viagra will work,” DoD added.
Viagra is still covered by TRICARE, the military’s health insurance system, as well as “External vacuum appliances,” or penis pumps, “penile implants and testicular prostheses,” and hormone injections to treat Erectile Dysfunction.
According to a Washington Free Beacon analysis, at $25 a pill, the amount of Viagra purchased by the Pentagon could have led to up to 80,770 hours, 33 minutes, and 36 seconds of sexual enhancement, assuming that no erection lasted more than the medically advised 4 hour maximum.
http://freebeacon.com/issues/pentagon-spent-504816-on-viagra-last-year/
