Campaigning against marketing of Viagra through mail shots
It is on record that Viagra, the popular erectile dysfunction drug exclusively manufactured and marketed by Pfizer, Inc., is a prescription drug that has been greatly abused. It is also on record that campaign to nip the trend in the bud is yielding little or no result as this deplorable practice is not only aided by the unbelievably high number of businessmen who engage in such dealings, but also the extremely high number of buyers who enthusiastically patronise these businessmen.
Such encouragement from buyers has helped grow the business of these unscrupulous sellers of Viagra tablets, and what is more the incentive for new entrants to come into the business.
Spurred by the vast opportunity to be tapped from this gold mine, these sellers have different ways of luring potential buyers. With the internet providing the perfect platform for them, their activities on the net is palpable as mail users are besieged with irresistible offers to buy Viagra pills.
However, experts have continuously warned the public about the dangers of buying Viagra tablets without recourse to standard practice.
A recent development has seen experts urging the government to outlaw attempts to market Viagra by unsolicited mail shots.
Not only has this practice been condemned for its tendency to exploit the embarrassment of impotent men, but it also encourages them not to seek medical help when they could, in fact, be suffering from severe underlying medical conditions.
Tory MP Roger Gale, calling on Health Secretary Frank Dobson to intervene, said Viagra was a therapeutic drug "and not a recreational toy".
The MP for Thanet North, Mr Gale said that a mail shot that was advertising packets of 30 Viagra tablets for £450 was sent to a constituent, who would rather remain anonymous, in Herne Bay, Kent.
The text was credited to Swiss company Medica International Pharmaceuticals, but the company could not be traced, and the package was sent from Liverpool.
The documents prominently use the name of Pfizer without authority.
They said: "When you use Viagra tablets for special occasions, you and your partner are guaranteed enriching and satisfying experience that will boost a loving relationship."
They went on: "We supply specialist prescription drugs medicines which can either be difficult or embarrassing to obtain through your own doctor."
They explained under what conditions Viagra should be ideally taken.
The manufacturer of Viagra has reiterated its determination to ensure no stone is left unturned in stamping out mail shot marketing of the drug.
According to a spokesman for Pfizer, ‘The publicity surrounding Viagra has encouraged a lot of people who are out to make quick money to try and market the drug through whatever means possible, either through junk mail or mail shots.
The spokesman went on: "We want to make absolutely surely that we operate within the ethics as a pharmaceutical company and have no relationship whatsoever with these other companies. We do not sanction what they are doing and we will do whatever we can to prevent any illegal trading like this."
‘The unauthorised use of trademarks could be a criminal offence,’ he said.
‘Eight out of 10 cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by a usually more severe medical condition. And the practice of buying Viagra through mail shots prevents people from seeing their doctors to ascertain what is really wrong with them,’ he also warned.
Because some people might be too embarrassed to go see a doctor for their ED, they tend to respond to a mail shot which promises "maximum confidentiality" in which their Viagra tablets are packed under plain cover.
