Although I don't agree with all of WalMart's business practices, I
believe their $4.00 Generic Drug Program, is a godsend to many, who
would otherwise have difficulty being able to afford their
medications.

Myrl
http://www.webstarmagic.com/wisletter.htm

Wal-Mart Expands $4 Drugs Program
Thursday September 27, 11:11 am ET
By Marcus Kabel, AP Business Writer

Wal-Mart Stores Add More Drugs to Its $4 Generic 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.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer launched the $4 generics program
late last year as it pushed a variety of health and environmental
initiatives to counter political pressure led by union groups over its
labor practices, including health insurance.

"We have taken what we do best, working with suppliers, driving costs
out of the supply chain and passing those savings to our customers.
Now we're applying that to health care," chief operating officer Bill
Simon said on a conference call for reporters and analysts.

The increase adds about 30 prescriptions, made up of 14 drugs in
various doses, to a list of 331 prescriptions and 143 drug compounds
sold under the first phase introduced last year.

Critics including the National Community Pharmacists Association,
which represents non-chain pharmacies that compete with Wal-Mart, have
called the discounts a publicity stunt that covers only a fraction of
the 8,700 generic prescription drugs approved by the Federal Drug
Administration.

Analysts have said the main benefit for Wal-Mart was in drawing more
shoppers into its stores who may come for prescriptions and then make
purchases in other departments.

Wal-Mart has made the $4 plan, which covers 30 days worth of generic
drugs, a central plank of its public relations effort and says the
program has cut over $610 million in health care costs since it
started. That figure is the difference between the old price it
charged for the generics and the new price, times the number of
prescriptions sold, Simon said.

Simon said Wal-Mart is not selling any of the $4 prescriptions at a
loss. The generics are profitable, he said, without providing detailed
figures.

Simon said the $4 generics under the first phase account for just
under 40 percent of all prescriptions filled at Wal-Mart pharmacies.
He projected that rate will climb to well over 40 percent with the new
drugs.

Shares of Wal-Mart Stores rose 30 cents to $43.60 in morning trading
Thursday.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070927/wal_mart_stores_drugs.html?.v=2&printer=1