Supermarket Special: Free Drugs

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Who doesn't like free drugs? Even if we're just talking antibiotics, free drugs have a special allure all their own. In view of that, and in the ultimate sales promotion, the Publix supermarket chain, with over 900 stores throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee, is offering a free drug program to customers with prescriptions for amoxicillin, cephalexin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, penicillin VK, erythromycin, ampicillin, and ciprofoxacin.

If I lived in one of the states that house Publix markets, I can assure you that the compulsive, druggie-hoarder in me would be on the phone, demanding a cipro prescription from my doctor right now. Just to have, you know? In the medicine cabinet. Because there's something comforting about knowing it's there.

Seriously, though—this is an interesting little commentary (intended or not—I'm guessing "not") on the American health care system in the wake of Michael Moore's Sicko, and the ensuing debate that it sparked. With health care costs one of the biggest challenges facing many Americans, and political loons on both the left and the right arguing about the issues, it's interesting to see the private sector taking a leadership stance.

Publix CEO Charlie Jenkins Jr. said that in addition to obviously wanting to increase Publix pharmacy sales, the company was looking for a way to alleviate at least some small part of the health care costs that plague Americans—especially those without insurance .

Publix customer Barbara Lemay had this to say: "I've been on antibiotics occasionally, and to get anything free with the price of medications today is phenomenal," she said. "People just can't afford the medications. You have no insurance, you're looking at hundreds of dollars a month."

Lemay, who gets Social Security benefits, said if she is prescribed one of the antibiotics she definitely would go to Publix to get it, and said it could save her "thousands of dollars." Publix is actually the first large regional chain to offer certain drugs at no cost, although Wal-Mart, Kmart, and some other retailers do offer discounted drug programs. Now, if they would just provide free birth control, then they'd really be onto something.

I'd like to dedicate this to the gang over at the Publix table:

web address: http://suicidegirls.com/news/culture/22060/Supermarket-Special-Free-Drugs/