Giant Eagle free antibiotics program proves a winner

PITTSBURGH Giant Eagle last week announced that its free antibiotics program, launched in September of last year, has resulted in more than $3 million in free prescriptions for customers in the company's four-state operating area.

"Giant Eagle launched our free antibiotics program as part of our commitment to improving the health and wellness of our communities," stated Giant Eagle VP pharmacy, Randy Heiser. "We are very pleased to see such great customer acceptance and confidence in Giant Eagle Pharmacy to deliver these vital prescriptions for children and adults."

To date, more than 590,000 prescriptions for free antibiotics have been filled by the Giant Eagle Pharmacy, treating common infections that range from strep throat, ear infections and conjunctivitis to bladder infections, pneumonia, acne, urinary tract and skin infections.

In Western Pennsylvania stores, Heiser said that approximately 280,000 prescriptions were filled amounting to nearly $1.4 million. Across all of its pharmacies, the free antibiotics program has resulted in the addition of more than 135,000 new pharmacy customers to Giant Eagle and more than 1.8 million new scripts from current pharmacy customers.

"With so many families experiencing some level of economic hardship, medical professionals have worried that prescriptions go unfilled because patients simply can't afford them," Heiser said. "While people are still navigating challenging times, we've seen a very positive response to our free antibiotics offer which clearly indicates it is filling a real need."

The antibiotics available under the program with a valid prescription are amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline hyclate, erythromycin, gentamicin, penicillin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and tetracycline.