WASHINGTON (voa) – The world’s largest drug maker, Pfizer, says it will offer prescription drugs to some low-income elderly patients in the United States at a discount of more than 75 percent beginning March 1.
Under the plan, low-income elderly will be able to buy a 30-day supply of most Pfizer medicines for $15 – considerably lower than their market price, which is about $65. Pfizer drugs include cholesterol fighter Lipitor, anti-impotence drug Viagra and anti-depressant Zoloft.
The discounts will be offered to low-income people under the U.S. government’s Medicare health insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Medicare does not reimburse the costs of prescription drugs unless patients are admitted to hospitals.
Legislative efforts in Congress to include drugs in the Medicare insurance program for the elderly have stalled following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Pfizer’s discount offer follows similar offers by major drug companies such as British-based GlaxoSmithKline and Switzerland’s Novartis.
