UK supermarket is granted licence to sell Viagra to reduce internet sales

From this week Tesco will be able to sell the erectile dysfunction treatment sildenafil (marketed as Viagra) in 300 pharmacies in its supermarkets across the United Kingdom without the need for a prescription from a GP.

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency confirmed that sildenafil remains a prescription only drug and is not available over the counter—instead Tesco has been granted permission to dispense the treatment under a special licence called a patient group direction.

These licences are granted in situations where they offer an advantage to the care of patients without compromising their safety and also where they provide an opportunity for general health screening. The agency says that Tesco is registered with the Healthcare Commission and meets the statutory requirements for such directions, which include ensuring that the …