Thursday, May 8, 2008

More Market Benefits from Wal-Mart

Consumers continue to benefit from the marketplace:
Wal-Mart expands low-price drug program

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, announced Monday it would expand its discounted prescription drug program to offer 90-day supplies for $10 and add several women's medications at a discount. It also said it would lower the price of more than 1,000 over-the-counter drugs.

The move marks the third phase of a company program that began in 2006 to provide a 30-day supply of generic prescription drugs for $4. The Bentonville-based company said the program has saved customers more than $1 billion.

...While stressing that the expansion was designed to help customers at a time of exorbitant health-care costs and difficult economic times, [senior vice president John] Agwunobi said the program has worked in everyone's favor.

"This is the time for us now to begin building capacity," he said. "It offers (customers') employers potential savings. It offers the customers significant savings. It also offers us the ability to add capacity to our pharmacies without adding people."