Good news in recession!
Trenton: World's biggest drugmaker Pfizer Inc says it will provide 70 of its most widely prescribed prescription drugs - including Lipitor and Viagra - for free to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance.
The company said on Thursday it would give away the medicines for up to a year to Americans who lost jobs since January 1 and have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more.
The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession and a campaign in Washington to rein in health care costs and extend coverage. The move could earn Pfizer some goodwill in that debate after long being a target of critics of drug industry prices and sales practices.
The programme also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer brands.
''Everybody knows now a neighbour, a relative who has lost their job and is losing their insurance. People are definitely hurting out there,'' Dr. Jorge Puente, Pfizer's head of pharmaceuticals outside the US and Europe and a champion of the project, said.
''Our aim is to help people bridge this point, '' he added.
Text: AP
Image: A sign at Pfizer world headquarters is shown in New York. (Photograph copyright AP. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.)
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