More Cheap Drugs

Michael C. Moynihan | September 27, 2007

According to the AP, Wal-Mart is to widen the number of drugs covered by its $4 prescription program.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expanding its national $4 generic prescription drug program by about 10 percent, adding drugs for some new conditions.

The world's largest retailer said Thursday it has added drugs covering glaucoma, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fungal infections and acne.

Two prescription birth control drugs and one fertility drug were added at $9, reflecting a higher cost that the company said could not be brought down further.

Wal-Mart's aggressive pricing has provoked a mini price war, with competitors like Kmart and Target also using $4 prescription drugs as loss-leaders. In August, Florida-based supermarket chain Publix announced that they would give away seven popular antibiotics for free.

More on Wal-Mart's "innovative" new health insurance policies for its own employees here.  

Comments

|9.27.07 @ 11:35AM|#

Those greedy bastards. That is all.

|9.27.07 @ 11:36AM|#

This is a bad thing. Wal Mart is evil. They are unfairly competing with the Mom & Pop pharmacies on Main Street.

SIV|9.27.07 @ 11:39AM|#

This is a bad thing. Wal Mart is evil.
They are unfairly pressuring suppliers!Waaaaaa!

|9.27.07 @ 11:48AM|#

Undoubtedly a globalist conspiracy by those slicksters from Benton, Arkansas.

|9.27.07 @ 11:49AM|#

Publix. Where popping is a pleasure.

thoreau|9.27.07 @ 11:50AM|#

So, there are some people who say that reimportation should not be allowed because it would harm pharmaceutical profits and thereby harm innovation.

If anybody with that viewpoint is reading this thread, I'd be curious to hear what they think about WalMart using its market power to keep prices low.

|9.27.07 @ 11:57AM|#

i hear S-mart is gonna offer a free box of shotgun shells with each drug purchase.

shop smart!

Guy Montag|9.27.07 @ 12:11PM|#

I can't wait until Ezra Klein includes this news in his latest installment of: Monopsony Power should only be heald by the Government! Wal*Mart killed my Vlasic pickles!!!!!

Right now he seems to be distracted by responses to his notion that the DC governemnt does not build enough book stores and coffee houses for whitie.

|9.27.07 @ 12:33PM|#

thoreau,

Doesn't it make a difference that Wal*Mart is only doing this with generics, so far as I've been able to tell?

thoreau|9.27.07 @ 12:41PM|#

Fair point.

|9.27.07 @ 12:49PM|#

Once we've got 'em hooked, and driven those other saps out of business, we'll jack up the prices and make some real money! Nyahahaaah!

|9.27.07 @ 1:35PM|#

$4 prescriptions for ADD? Sweet! Now I can buy my "study pills" from my buddy at a big discount. Go Wal-Mart!

|9.27.07 @ 2:37PM|#

thoreau:

First, there is the generic vs. other distinction already made. Second, regardless of how single payer advocates want to frame it, Canada's government imposing a price limit is not the same as a non state entity using purchasing power to reduce prices. There is an implied threat when a government imposes a price cap: abide by the cap or we'll not enforce your patent.

|9.27.07 @ 2:47PM|#

Frank,
I wonder if street prices for speed will go down this year because of users switching to cheaper ADD drugs.

|9.27.07 @ 3:33PM|#

jtuf - one can only hope...

CB

bubba|9.28.07 @ 10:37AM|#

FWIW Wal Mart claims it's making a profit on these drugs. Even at $4.

$9 for a couple of them.