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Letter to the editor

Publix ditches $4 drug deals

The chain, which just launched a free antibiotics plan, won't match rivals' discounts.

By Madhusmita Bora, Times Staff Writer
Published August 9, 2007

You can no longer go to a Publix pharmacy expecting Wal-Mart deals on medicines.

Last year, Wal-Mart rolled out a program cutting prices on 143 generic drugs to $4 for a 30-day supply. Publix was among a handful of competitors to match the offer.

On Wednesday, the Lakeland grocer - and Florida's No. 1 supermarket chain - said it's done honoring such requests. Instead, Publix will focus on the free antibiotics program the company launched Monday.

"We never had a matching program, but in the spirit of customer service, we did honor the $4 scripts when asked by customers," said Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten.

Publix's new plan allows customers to obtain up to a 14-day supply of seven common, generic oral antibiotics, including amoxicillin and penicillin VK. Publix is not limiting the number of free prescriptions per customer, and it will honor valid refills beyond the two-week window.

The antibiotic plan, initially lauded as a smart marketing move by many, has lost some of its luster in the wake of Publix's end to its $4 service.

"The long-term drugs that people take for chronic conditions may now be difficult to afford," said Lori Parham, Florida director for the AARP. "Antibiotics are for short-term use, and there's real concern nationally that people are overusing" them.

Publix declined to reveal how much it is spending on its free antibiotics program, but said pharmacies are a growing segment of its business. The $22-billion chain has 684 pharmacies in five states. Publix said the seven offered antibiotics account for 50 percent of the generic pediatric prescriptions it fills.

In a spot check Wednesday, shoppers seemed ambivalent about the new discount and the deals that disappeared. Andrea Arcos, 25, who was shopping at the South Dale Mabry Publix in Tampa, said it doesn't bother her that Publix will cease to match competitors' deals.

"It won't be that big of a difference," she said.

But Vincent Peri, a retired Tampa pharmacist, termed the free drugs discriminatory.

"The antibiotics on the list are not for the summer months," he said, explaining that many of them are used to treat illnesses common in the winter. "And they are dirt cheap anyways."

In contrast, he said, the $4 deals were a boon for seniors and families on fixed incomes.

Still, Publix's free antibiotics program already is escalating the generic-drug price war trend ignited by Wal-Mart last year. On Wednesday, rival Albertsons said it will honor Publix's deal and more.

"We will match any competitor," said Shane McEtarffer, Albertsons' spokesman.

Sweetbay said it will continue to match rivals' pharmacy deals and is now evaluating options of offering some antibiotics for free.

Madhusmita Bora can be reached at mbora@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3112.

[Last modified August 8, 2007, 22:52:49]