Kroger will become the latest retailer to expand its generic drug discount program and increase the number of women's health medications offered at a discounted price.
Starting Wednesday, the Cincinnati-based grocery chain said its in-store pharmacy would sell a 90-day supply of more than 300 drugs for $10 each. The move expands a program under which a 30-day supply had been available for $4 and comes a week after discount retailer Wal-Mart announced a similar expansion of its prescription program.
Melissa Eads, a Kroger spokeswoman, said the move aims to match competitors and is in line with its strategy of providing customers products at good value. "It's been well received by our customers," she said about the $4 program launched here in February. Generally, some of the $4 generic drugs are being sold in Tennessee for $9 because of state law that prohibits charging below costs for medications.
Walgreens has discounts
Similar to Wal-Mart, Kroger said several specialized women's medications would now be available for $9 for 30-day supplies, and $24 for a 90-day supply. They include the breast cancer drug tamoxifen and generic version of osteoporosis medication Fosamax.
Charles E. Cerankosky, an analyst at FTN Midwest Securities in Cleveland, Ohio, said that because of their large size, established retailers such as Kroger and Wal-Mart are better able to adjust their pricing and marketing approaches in a competitive environment.
"Wal-Mart is the driver behind this sort of discounting," Cerankosky said, adding that the offer of discount prescription drugs only applies to a select list of products.
Drugstore chain Walgreens has taken a different approach with a 90-day program through its prescription savings club, which charges an annual fee of $20 for an individual or $35 for a family. Members can get a 90-day supply of 360 generic drugs for $12.99 each plus discounts on more than 4,000 brand-name medications, said Michael Polzin, Walgreens' spokesman.
