Tesco to sell half-price Viagra

Tesco is to start selling the male anti-impotence drug Viagra over-the-counter, the first supermarket in the country to do so.

The anti-impotence drug is to be sold in 300 in-store pharmacies from next Monday, at a price of £52 for eight pills, less than half the usual price of £55 for four.

The service will be available to men aged between 40 and 65. They will have to complete a questionnaire and will then be given a blood pressure test, diabetes screening and cholesterol test.

Statistics show that only about one man in 10 with erectile dysfunction or impotence seeks help from their GP.

Shona Scott, Tesco commercial manager for pharmacy services, said: "At the moment only Boots offer a similar service for which they charge £55 for just four tablets.

“Provided that they (men) are suitable we will discuss their options and can sell them an effective treatment. Only pharmacists can make this sale.”

Erectile dysfunction is a common sexual problem and may affect around 2.3 million men in the UK. Half of all men over 40 will experience it at some point in their lives.

This article was published on Mon 20 September 2010