Good News, Guys! The Price of ED Medication is Tumbling in SA

To the thousands of South African men that suffer from impotence, the tumbling price of erectile dysfunction (ED) medication, means lovemaking no longer has to be limited to special occasions like Valentine’s Day.

Up till recently, the high price of ED medication has been an issue for many, but increased generic competition has seen prices drop by an average of 33% in the last 11 years. Generics on the market are now selling at an average price of R80 (including VAT) for a pack of four.

A number of variables affect the final cost a patient pays, such as dispensing fees, which differ from pharmacy to pharmacy, but consumers can expect to pay a lot less this year.

Fadhl Solomon, Men’s Health Category Manager for Pharma Dynamics, says once generic ED medication entered the market a few years ago, prices began to drop steadily.

“Currently, there are 10 different generic ED brands available to SA patients, with more expected to follow in the coming months. We want to make treatment of ED as convenient, cost-effective and discreet as possible.”

ED affects an estimated 4 in 10 men over the age of 40, but Solomon says the figure is likely to be higher since patients are often too embarrassed to report it to their doctor.

“Erectile dysfunction refers to a man’s inability to get an erection that’s firm enough to have sex.

“In many cases, ED is linked to hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease or diabetes, which are often as a result of obesity, smoking or drinking too much alcohol. Therefore, ED may be a symptom of other underlying health concerns. It’s part of the body’s internal warning system telling you that all is not well.

“We encourage all men that suffer from ED to ask their doctor for a thorough physical examination to get to the root cause,” advises Solomon.

Pharma Dynamics is a major supplier of ED medication in SA and was the first to launch a generic equivalent of the originator to the SA market in 2012.

The size of the local market for ED medication on prescription continues to grow and is currently valued at R250m.