German court rules on civil servants using Viagra
BERLIN, May 30 (Reuters) – A top German court ruled on Friday that civil servants using anti-impotence drugs such as Pfizer Inc’s (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Viagra do not qualify for state assistance even if they are prescribed as a result of a serious illness. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig said denying government cash for the drugs did not contravene German equality laws, overturning a ruling by an appeal court. The latest decision by the Leipzig court comes after it ruled in 2003 that civil servants using the drugs should qualify for state assistance.
In Germany, civil servants have a special health insurance under which they qualify for state support. The Interior Ministry had responded to the 2003 ruling by changing the rules on state support in 2004. The court said on Friday the government needed to change the rules again once the current legislative period ends next year as they did not conform with constitutional law.
If the government failed to do so, the court would have to decide on applications for state support on a case by case basis, it added. (Reporting by Iain Rogers; Editing by David Holmes)
Related posts:
- High court: Viagra not on public insurance bill
- Pfizer Emerges Victorious in China Viagra Patent Battle
- City Must Pay for Man’s Viagra
- HIV man wanted Viagra for safe sex, court told
- India gets its answer to Viagra
Comments
Leave a Reply