The Brazilian army buys 35,000 "Viagra pills" and raises widespread controversy...and "Defense" clarifies

After one of the representatives revealed, the day before yesterday, Monday, that he had purchased 35,000 pills of the sexual stimulant drug Viagra, the Brazilian army has become the subject of widespread controversy, at a time when dozens of sarcastic comments spread through the communication sites.

"Hospitals lack medicines, but (President) Bolsonaro and his team are spending public funds to buy small blue pills" (referring to Viagra pills), said MP Elias Vaz, stressing that he asked for explanations regarding this "immoral" request. by the Ministry of Defense.

Vaz noted that he obtained this information from the government's transparency portal, which provides on-demand access to data on public spending.

He explained that the documents do not clearly mention Viagra, but they show approval to buy thousands of tablets that contain "sildenafil", the molecule that makes up the famous drug used to treat cases related to impotence.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement received by AFP that "the purchase of sildenafil" was "intended for the treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension", as drugs such as Viagra contribute to the expansion of the lung vessels.

The ministry's justification did not discourage Internet users from publishing their comments on social media.

"With these pills, the army will neglect even more democracy," the satirical website Censacionalista said.

The leftist MP Marcelo Freixo noted that the government of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro agreed to this request, while the president "vetoed a bill that would allow free distribution of sanitary pads to poor women."

Bolsonaro finally reversed his decision, signing a decree in early March allowing the free distribution of these health products.

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