Wal-Mart Pulls Another Fast One, Maximum Push for PR, Minimal Help for Patients
Wal-Mart Pulls Another Fast One, Maximum Push for PR, Minimal Help for Patients
10/5/2006 3:56:00 PM
To: State Desk, Health and Medical Reporters
Contact: Carol Cooke of National Community Pharmacists Association, 703-838-2686, carol.cooke@ncpanet.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today called Wal-Mart's expansion of its generic drug program a cynical attempt to gain maximum public relations value while providing minimal value to patients. Wal-Mart today announced that it will begin offering a small number of generic medications for $4 in all of its Florida stores beginning Oct. 6. Two weeks ago, the company said it would take the program statewide next year.
"If you look at the list of medications they are offering for $4, it represents about one percent of the total number of drugs available," said NCPA Executive Vice President and CEO Bruce Roberts, RPh. "The question people should be asking Wal-Mart is, 'What will you be charging for the other 99 percent of the medications that people need?'"
Of the more than 11,000 drugs listed by the Food and Drug Administration, the Wal-Mart program will offer about 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.
-- 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.
"Wal-Mart's original list included none of the generic statins used to treat high cholesterol," Roberts said. "After much criticism, the company added the oldest one with the worst profile for side effects. Patients deserve good care. Instead they -- and Rep. Jeb Bush -- are being used by Wal-Mart."
The impact of Wal-Mart's program 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 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 known for driving small-town businesses out of business through deceptive and predatory pricing practices and then raising prices on prescription drugs and other health-related products.
"Prescription medicines are not a commodity like T-shirts and DVDs," 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 202-347-2770/
Copyright © 2006 PR Newswire Association LLC.
All rights reserved. A United Business Media Company
10/5/2006 3:56:00 PM
To: State Desk, Health and Medical Reporters
Contact: Carol Cooke of National Community Pharmacists Association, 703-838-2686, carol.cooke@ncpanet.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today called Wal-Mart's expansion of its generic drug program a cynical attempt to gain maximum public relations value while providing minimal value to patients. Wal-Mart today announced that it will begin offering a small number of generic medications for $4 in all of its Florida stores beginning Oct. 6. Two weeks ago, the company said it would take the program statewide next year.
"If you look at the list of medications they are offering for $4, it represents about one percent of the total number of drugs available," said NCPA Executive Vice President and CEO Bruce Roberts, RPh. "The question people should be asking Wal-Mart is, 'What will you be charging for the other 99 percent of the medications that people need?'"
Of the more than 11,000 drugs listed by the Food and Drug Administration, the Wal-Mart program will offer about 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.
-- 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.
"Wal-Mart's original list included none of the generic statins used to treat high cholesterol," Roberts said. "After much criticism, the company added the oldest one with the worst profile for side effects. Patients deserve good care. Instead they -- and Rep. Jeb Bush -- are being used by Wal-Mart."
The impact of Wal-Mart's program 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 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 known for driving small-town businesses out of business through deceptive and predatory pricing practices and then raising prices on prescription drugs and other health-related products.
"Prescription medicines are not a commodity like T-shirts and DVDs," 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 202-347-2770/
Copyright © 2006 PR Newswire Association LLC.
All rights reserved. A United Business Media Company
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