Re: NEWS - Giant Food to offer free prescription antibiotics

[Guest guest]

I am so happy to hear of these pharmacies that offer free antibiotics.

However, for those of us in the Southeastern section of the US that

don't have access to a Giant Food Store, Publix offers the same deal -

but it is a permanent offer - not a three month trial like

Giant.....Doreen

>

> Giant Food to Offer Free Prescription Antibiotics

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>

> By Ylan Q. Mui

> Washington Post Staff Writer

> Wednesday, December 31, 2008; Page D01

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> Giant Food stores will give free generic antibiotics to customers

> with a prescription for the next three months in what retail

> experts called an aggressive move in supermarkets' heated battle

> for shoppers.

>

> The company said the program, which will begin Friday and last

> through March 21, covers several popular antibiotics such as

> amoxicillin, penicillin and ciprofloxacin. This is the first time

> that Giant has offered free prescription drugs and it did not

> estimate the cost or potential popularity of the program.

>

> " Times are tough, " said Robin Michel, executive vice president for

> Giant Food, which is based in Landover. " If this is the way that we

> can help most people, why not? "

>

> The economic downturn has made it increasingly difficult for many

> Americans to afford prescription drugs. An October survey by the

> Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health policy group, found

> that 27 percent of people did not fill a prescription in order to

> save money, compared with 23 percent just six months earlier. About

> 22 percent reported cutting pills or skipping doses, up from 19

> percent.

>

> The pharmacy business has become increasingly competitive since

> Wal-Mart began offering nearly 300 generic prescription drugs for

> just $4 in 2006. Its rivals were forced to follow suit, with Giant

> lowering 90-day supplies of popular drugs to $9.99 this summer.

> According to consulting firm Willard Bishop, pharmacy sales

> typically make up about 10 percent of revenue at grocery stores.

>

> ******************************************

> Read the entire article here:

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/30/AR2008123002834.\

html

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> Not an MD

>