No Over The Counter Viagra in Ireland, Says Tesco.

The British supermarket Tesco recently announced a new service it will provide to its male shoppers. Men with erectile dysfunction will be able to purchase Viagra directly from their pharmacy division without a prior prescription. There are several tests they have to pass before they can get the OK from the pharmacist, such as a high blood pressure and diabetes exam.

Tesco has many branches in Ireland, where men were expecting to get the same service. However, Tesco recently announced that this service will not be available throughout its stores in Ireland. The same goes for Boots Pharmacy, which also has stores in Ireland. Irish men will NOT be able to buy Viagra from both stores located in Ireland, but the service is still available if they visit the UK branches.

Edguider News: Tesco to offer Viagra over the Counter Cheaper than Boots Pharmacy

Why Men cannot get Viagra OTC in Ireland?

Tesco offers this service through its pharmacy section located within the Tesco Supermarket. The stores they have in Ireland could not support this system because they do not have a pharmacy section or pharmacists.  It is still unclear why Boots will not sell Viagra over the counter in Ireland, although they operate as a pharmacy and not a supermarket which needs an integrated pharmacy in order to provide this type of service.

Not everyone is happy about this new service from Tesco

Offering Viagra over the counter might be beneficial for many men who do not want to deal with the hassle of prescriptions, but some doctors are saying this is a bad idea on Tesco's behalf. Doctors from Liverpool have expressed their concerns about the health risks involved without the proper diagnosis from a GP.

"Along with the Liverpool community center, doctor Gallard mentions that medications for erectile dysfunction such as Viagra should only be offered by a general practitioner, due to the products risks and side effects."  

Read more: Doctor from Liverpool says Tesco should not sell Viagra OTC