IF Pfizer can Give Drugs away Free, do we really need to Spend BILLIONS to reform HealthCare; Perhaps a change in the mindset of the Industry is what is Required

Free Lipitor, Viagra, other drugs for jobless

TRENTON, N.J. – Pfizer Inc. is unveiling a new program Thursday that will let people who have lost their jobs and health insurance keep taking some widely prescribed Pfizer medications — including Lipitor and Viagra — for free for up to a year.

The world’s biggest drugmaker will provide more than 70 of its prescription drugs at no cost to unemployed, uninsured Americans, regardless of their prior income, who lost jobs since Jan. 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 program also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer brands.

The full Pfizer article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090514/ap_on_re_us/us_pfizer_free_drugs;_ylt=Ah0ecEHmQcL31sepiN13rJys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJtMGZmdDZ1BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNTE0L3VzX3BmaXplcl9mcmVlX2RydWdzBGNwb3MDOQRwb3MDMTYEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDZnJlZWxpcGl0b3J2