Wal-Mart Offers Up Classic Bait-and-Switch: $4 Generic Offer is Less Than Meets the Eye
Wal-Mart Offers Up Classic Bait-and-Switch: $4 Generic Offer is Less Than Meets the Eye, Says NPCA
9/28/2006 4:57:00 PM
To: National Desk, Health and Medical Reporters
Contact: Carol Cooke of National Community Parmacists Association 703-838-2686 carol.cooke@ncpanet.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today warned patients, consumer advocates and health policy experts to look closely at the program recently announced by Wal-Mart to begin offering a limited number of generic prescription medications for $4 for a 30-day supply in the Tampa, Fla., area. The 291 drugs on the Wal- Mart list include many older medicines, multiple versions of the same medicines and no choices for a number of key health conditions.
"What happens to patients who walk into Wal-Mart thinking that they will be able to get their medications for $4, only to be told that the medicine they need is not on the list and will cost much more?" said NCPA Executive Vice President and CEO Bruce Roberts, RPh. "That is the classic bait-and-switch."
Of the nearly 9,000 generic drugs available in the U.S., the Wal-Mart pilot program will offer fewer than 300. Of that group:
-- Fewer than 150 separate medicines are included. For example, 12 different versions of the antibiotic amoxicillin are included on the list.
-- Only one of the top 20 most frequently prescribed medications, in its commonly used form, is on the list.
-- None of the generic statins, used to treat high cholesterol, are on the list.
-- Many older medications are on the list and newer, replacement medications that often work better or have fewer side effects are not included on the list.
"Community pharmacists strongly support providing access to safe, affordable prescription medicines to the people who need them," Roberts said. "That is one of the reasons why community pharmacists have worked so hard, under difficult circumstances, to make the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan work. But this move by Wal-Mart certainly cannot be viewed as the answer to most patients' needs. Patients' time and health are too valuable to send them on a wild-goose chase looking for their medications."
The impact of Wal-Mart's announcement also raises concerns about patient safety and the professional counseling role of pharmacists.
"We have tremendous respect for the power of prescription medications and the lifesaving -- or if used incorrectly, life -- threatening-power they possess," Roberts said. "NCPA hopes that Wal-Mart pharmacists will be given the time and incentive to adequately counsel all of their patients about their prescription medicines."
NCPA also is seeking a close examination of the anti- competitive nature of Wal-Mart's action. Wal-Mart is infamous for driving small-town businesses out of business through deceptive and predatory pricing practices.
"Prescription medicines are not a commodity like T-shirts and DVDs and should not be held out as a loss-leader lure to patients," Roberts said. "Community pharmacists are in the health care business and provide a value to patients no matter what medications they are taking. We are concerned that patients will be both misled and disappointed by the limited number of medicines in this new program."
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The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 24,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.
© 2006 U.S. Newswire
9/28/2006 4:57:00 PM
To: National Desk, Health and Medical Reporters
Contact: Carol Cooke of National Community Parmacists Association 703-838-2686 carol.cooke@ncpanet.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today warned patients, consumer advocates and health policy experts to look closely at the program recently announced by Wal-Mart to begin offering a limited number of generic prescription medications for $4 for a 30-day supply in the Tampa, Fla., area. The 291 drugs on the Wal- Mart list include many older medicines, multiple versions of the same medicines and no choices for a number of key health conditions.
"What happens to patients who walk into Wal-Mart thinking that they will be able to get their medications for $4, only to be told that the medicine they need is not on the list and will cost much more?" said NCPA Executive Vice President and CEO Bruce Roberts, RPh. "That is the classic bait-and-switch."
Of the nearly 9,000 generic drugs available in the U.S., the Wal-Mart pilot program will offer fewer than 300. Of that group:
-- Fewer than 150 separate medicines are included. For example, 12 different versions of the antibiotic amoxicillin are included on the list.
-- Only one of the top 20 most frequently prescribed medications, in its commonly used form, is on the list.
-- None of the generic statins, used to treat high cholesterol, are on the list.
-- Many older medications are on the list and newer, replacement medications that often work better or have fewer side effects are not included on the list.
"Community pharmacists strongly support providing access to safe, affordable prescription medicines to the people who need them," Roberts said. "That is one of the reasons why community pharmacists have worked so hard, under difficult circumstances, to make the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan work. But this move by Wal-Mart certainly cannot be viewed as the answer to most patients' needs. Patients' time and health are too valuable to send them on a wild-goose chase looking for their medications."
The impact of Wal-Mart's announcement also raises concerns about patient safety and the professional counseling role of pharmacists.
"We have tremendous respect for the power of prescription medications and the lifesaving -- or if used incorrectly, life -- threatening-power they possess," Roberts said. "NCPA hopes that Wal-Mart pharmacists will be given the time and incentive to adequately counsel all of their patients about their prescription medicines."
NCPA also is seeking a close examination of the anti- competitive nature of Wal-Mart's action. Wal-Mart is infamous for driving small-town businesses out of business through deceptive and predatory pricing practices.
"Prescription medicines are not a commodity like T-shirts and DVDs and should not be held out as a loss-leader lure to patients," Roberts said. "Community pharmacists are in the health care business and provide a value to patients no matter what medications they are taking. We are concerned that patients will be both misled and disappointed by the limited number of medicines in this new program."
-----
The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 24,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.
© 2006 U.S. Newswire
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