Panic-buying during the COVID-19 pandemic is real, and it has very real consequences. According to the World Bank, anxiety-fueled purchases have led to instability in global supply chains of necessary medical supplies such as masks and protective gloves.
Surprisingly, sexual health-related products, like condoms and erectile dysfunction (ED) medications like Viagra, have also been impacted. While doctors are advising patients not to stockpile Viagra, some online prescription retailers might be taking advantage of the COVID-19-related panic. Read below to learn how ED prices have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Viagra Sees Price Hike
Pricing data shows clear and significant hikes in the cost of generic Viagra (sildenafil) sold by some online pharmacies. The comparison of prices from 14 retail chain pharmacies and three online medical facilitators, including eDrugstore.com, yielded interesting findings.
Trends from January to May 2020. Initially, consumers caught a break when average sildenafil prices decreased from January to March 2020. However, as COVID-19 was settling into the United States, prices started to change course, increasing again. Daily prices for both a 100 mg dose and a 50 mg dose rose nearly 4% from March to April. From April to May, prices remained steady.
What caused this spike from March to April? The spike was due to a single retailer. While most online retailers maintained prices for the first five months of 2020, one retailer took a different approach, increasing sildenafil prices by 70%.
Online pharmacies are not the only ones playing around with product pricing. In some UK shops, prices of meat and rice have reached unexpected heights. Even makers of luxury handbags have been trying to make up for COVID-related profit losses by raising their prices.
How to Protect Yourself from Prescription Price Hikes
There are ways to avoid inflated prescription prices.
- Consider Switching Retailers. If you’ve lived with ED for a while, compare what you’ve paid in the past with current prices. If you notice the price has increased, consider shopping around with different retailers.
- Comparison Shop. In most countries, it’s possible to find price comparison websites. Look for those with pricing history features and observe how rates have changed over time. Choose providers with steady, reliable pricing.
Support online pharmacies that use fair strategies even in times of crisis, like eDrugstore.com, which has maintained steady prescription pricing in the past months. Click here to see what’s available to purchase online without having to leave your own home.
Anka Grzywacz is a sexologist, reproductive health expert and Certified Sex Coach™. In her online practice she helps busy women and couples solve their intimate problems.