Grocer Publix to offer 7 antibiotics for free

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Publix Super Markets, a privately held grocer, said on Monday it would give away seven generic antibiotics most often taken for childhood ailments such as strep throat.

The plan mimics one already in place at another private chain in another part of the country. It also comes nearly a year after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and others started selling such drugs for $4 per prescription.

Publix, which is based in Lakeland, Florida, said it would give out amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin (excluding ciprofloxacin XR), erythromycin (excluding Ery-Tab), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (or SMZ-TMP) and penicillin VK. Customers must bring in a prescription to get up to a 14-day supply for free.

Publix said those antibiotics account for nearly 50 percent of the generic pediatric prescriptions filled at its stores. The company, which has more than 900 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, runs 684 pharmacies.

Meijer, a privately-held retailer with stores in the Midwest, started giving away the same drugs in October.

The antibiotics that Publix and Meijer give away are not prescribed for flu or any other viral disease, but are often given for conditions such as strep throat and bronchitis.

In September, Wal-Mart started offering certain drugs for $4 per prescription in Florida. The world's largest retailer then expanded the plan across the country.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl)