Wal-Mart expands $ 4 prescription drug program

NEW YORK, Sep 27 (Reuters) Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Thursday it has added more medicine to its prescription program, including certain new generic drugs, as part of its push to expand its health and wellness services.

The world's largest retailer said it will make available for drugs to treat glaucoma, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fungal infections and acne.

Fertility and prescription birth control will also be available for , Wal-Mart said.

Last year, Wal-Mart began selling certain generic drugs for per monthly prescription in September and by the end of November had extended the program to all its U.S. pharmacies -- far ahead of schedule.

The company said prescriptions now account for nearly 40 percent of all prescriptions filled in its Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Neighborhood Market pharmacies. It estimates that over the past year, the program has saved customers 3.6 million.

Earlier this year, it said it would open as many as 400 in-store health clinics in the next two to three years, and that number could jump to 2,000 in five to seven years.

REUTERS SR HT1822