Sweet Catastrophe

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Wal-Mart sent a shock through the health-care industry when it began offering discount prescription drugs for as little as $4.

Publix is now going $4 better than that, by offering free antibiotics to anyone with a prescription.

Carter Leidy Jr. is 19-months-old — and like a lot of kids his age, at a time in his life when earaches and colds start to make an appearance.

“He goes to the doctor every once in a while, but he’s fairly healthy right now,” said Carter Leidy, young Carter’s dad. “So we’re fortunate about that.”

And they are also fortunate that if a trip to the Publix Pharmacy is ever needed, chances are, little Carter’s parents will be able to get his antibiotics for free — as in no charge.

“Sounds pretty good to me,” the senior Carter said. “So go ahead and sign me up.”

Publix began its new program on Monday, offering seven of the most common antibiotics being used in medicine — including amoxicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and erythromycin.

All 684 of the chain’s pharmacies are offering the free meds with unlimited refills, for just as long as the customer has a valid prescription, and regardless of insurance or medical plan.

“I think that it’s something that can be very positive, but again it depends on how it’s addressed by the pharmacist to make sure everything is the way it should be,” said Leidy.

Publix said the typical cost of the antibiotics is anywhere from $10-to-$60 per prescription. But the move has two benefits that outweigh the cost to the company: helping customers cut their medical bills, and building loyalty among its shoppers to keep them coming back.

“Especially this one, because it’s a smaller Publix, and they all know me and they all know my child,” Leidy said.

Between Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Publix, Americans may find themselves in the middle of a new kind of war on drugs — a price war.

As for Publix, the company said it simply refused to stand by and watch as some of its customers had to decide between buying their food or their medicine. It simply made the choice for them.

I couldn’t be more excited about this. For me, this doesn’t mean much at the moment, because the prescriptions being offered are usually pretty low dollar to begin with, but it’s such a huge step in the direction of making health care here in the States just a little more bearable. It’s absolutely ridiculous what it costs to be healthy these days, and I honestly can’t imagine being a mother and having to decide whether I was going to buy the medicine to help my child get well, or food to feed my family. Unfortunately, that’s what I comes to for some people. I know I’ve only ever glimpsed it, and currently, I know my contact lenses are no longer the correct prescription, but I just can’t afford to pay for an exam right now. Maybe one day that won’t be a problem. Maybe Publix has given us that hope.