The anti-impotence drug Viagra will be available in Ireland within a fortnight if, as expected, it is approved by the European Union later today for sale in all 15 EU member-states.
The EU Industry Commissioner, Mr Martin Bangemann, is to sign the authorisation in Strasbourg today, and the manufacturers of the drug, Pfizer, expect to have it on sale on prescription in Irish pharmacies within two weeks.
However, amid growing concern in EU states that demand for the drug could lead to a significant drain on health funding, the Department of Health has yet to decide whether the drug will be provided free to medical card holders whose doctors prescribe it. Pfizer has applied for it to be provided in this way, and the Department will begin processing that application later today.
Yesterday, the British Department of Health announced that Viagra would not be available free on its National Health Service until more was known about the costs.
Pfizer has attempted to quell fears that the drug could cost the NHS more than £1 billion a year. It estimates the costs will be much lower, between £50 and £100 million a year, at £4.84 a tablet.
One-in-10 Irish men is believed to suffer from sexual dysfunction, but according to Pfizer it is impossible to tell how many of these will seek medical help and ultimately be prescribed Viagra.
A spokeswoman for the company said yesterday that the sale price in Ireland had not yet been finalised but it was expected to be close to the US price of $7 (£4.73) a tablet.
The formal EU decision to permit Viagra sales follows the issuing of a positive opinion by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency in May and the recent approval given by a committee of experts from the 15 EU countries.
The EU's authorisation will require that the drug is sold with an explanatory note warning of possible side-effects, including headaches, hot flushes, indigestion, panic attacks, blocked noses and problems with vision.
Viagra is widely regarded in the US as a "wonder-drug", transforming the sex lives of thousands of impotent men. It helps seven out of 10 men to have sex and works eight times out of 10.