Wal-Mart Counteroffers

As Wal-Mart Rolls Out Cheap Generics, Other Retailers Tout Similar Programs

Wal-Mart announced Friday that it is rolling out its $4 generic drug program to 14 additional states, as other retailers announced that they had or would launch similar programs.

The Wal-Mart program, which currently includes various doses and formulations of 143 compounds, started in Florida and will eventually be nationwide. According to the Associated Press, Target, the second-largest discount store in the U.S., has said that it will match Wal-Mart's program in all 48 states where it has stores. And Kmart pointed out that since May it has offered $15-dollar 90-day supplies of 184 generics.

Critics cited by the Associated Press charge that the Wal-Mart program, which is limited both in the number and doses of drugs covered, will not cover most consumers' prescriptions.

Wal-Mart press release (Free)

Wal-Mart list of generics (Free PDF)

Associated Press story (Free)

Physician's First Watch coverage of original Wal-Mart announcement (Free)

Source: Physician's First Watch for October 23, 2006
David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief