Chilean Town Giving Free Viagra To Senior Citizens

A working class suburb of Chile's capital began handing out free Viagra to senior citizens on Wednesday.

Lo Prado Mayor Gonzalo Navarrete said he launched the program because "an active sexuality improves the overall quality of life."

The mayor said about 1,500 residents of the working-class area have shown interest and are eligible to receive as many as four pills of the drug each month. They have to be at least 60 and be registered with the municipality's health service.

"A doctor will have to certify that their condition would not put them in danger of suffering cardio-respiratory side effects," Navarrete said.

He said he has already assured about $10,000 in financing for the program through the end of the year.

Some government insurance plans around the world include Viagra, but Lo Prado hands the 50mg pills out free, with no membership in any public or private insurance plan required.

He said he was inspired by complaints from older patients about their poor sex lives while working as a doctor.

Critics have suggested this is just a ploy to get the re-elected but Mayor Navarette insists he is performing a valuable social service.

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