Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced yesterday that it has expanded its low-priced drug program.

The retailer now offers more than 1,000 over-the-counter items for $4 or less and sells some 90-day generic prescriptions for $10.

Wal-Mart also increased the number of women's medications it offers at a discount adding drugs to treat osteoporosis, breast cancer and hormone deficiency.

In response, Wal-Mart's rival Target Corp said it was cutting prices on prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Prescription drugs

In 2006, Wal-Mart began selling some generic drugs for $4 per monthly prescription in Florida, and it quickly extended the program to all its U.S. pharmacies.

Last year, the world’s largest retailer added more medicines to the program and said in September that $4 prescriptions accounted for nearly 40 percent of all prescriptions filled in its Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Neighborhood Market pharmacies.

Wal-Mart said pharmacies at its U.S. discount stores, Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club warehouse locations are now filling prescriptions for up to 350 generic medications, like diabetes drug metformin and asthma drug albuterol, for $10 for a 90-day supply.

May 6, 2008