Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has some good news for Hawai'i consumers strapped by rising food and fuel prices, at least when it comes to medicine prices.

Yesterday it announced it's lowering the cost of hundreds of generic prescription drugs, more than 1,000 over-the-counter remedies and expanding its program discounting medicine for women.

The company said Hawai'i will be included in its prescription program that features a 90-day supply of generic drugs for $10, although the prices for some of the 350 drugs in the program may be higher here.

Wal-Mart and other retailers have been trying to attract customers by offering discounts on popular generic drugs. Kmart offers more than 300 generic medicines in 90-day supplies for $15, while Target Corp. and Walgreens Co. also have discount programs that have proven popular with people who have tight budgets or are living on fixed incomes. Longs Drug Stores, Hawai'i's largest drugstore chain, was not immediately available for comment.

Prescription drug costs have been rising steadily over the last decade, with the average annual gain being 4.1 percent, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The price rollback comes at a time when Hawai'i consumers are getting socked by record prices for gasoline while grocery prices are increasing.

Wal-Mart made a splash in introducing its discount drug program in late 2006, offering 30-day supplies of certain generic drugs for $4 at its namesake discount stores and at its Sam's Club warehouse locations. The nation's largest retailer said it will offer up to 350 generic medications in its $10 program.

At the same time, it expanded a program introduced last year that provides women's health medicines at $9 for a 30-day supply. For example, Wal-Mart now offers alendronate, the generic version of osteoporosis drug Fosamax, along with medications treating breast cancer, menopause and hormone deficiency.

The retailer noted, though, that certain drugs in Hawai'i may cost more than what they do in 41 other states. Spokeswoman Tiffany Moffat said state law here prevents Wal-Mart from sales below cost. She said the discount price will vary.

"We are complying with state law," Moffat said. But she noted "in general Hawai'i customers are seeing significant savings."

Wal-Mart also announced a third portion of its program, lowering over-the-counter medicines to $4 or lower. These include Wal-Mart's Equate-brand versions of drugs such as Zantac, Pepcid and Claritin.

Target, a discount chain that plans to open here next year, said it will be matching some of Wal-Mart's discount drug offerings, while Kmart in March said it would sell over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and decongestants for $1 each.

Walgreens, the drugstore chain that's begun opening stores here, has a savings club offering discounts on 5,000 name-brand and generic medications.

Wal-Mart, which competes by offering low prices, operates eight of its discount stores and two Sam's Club locations in Hawai'i. Earlier this year it estimated the $4 drug program had saved pharmacy customers $2.28 million since its start here.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report. Reach Greg Wiles at 525-8088 or gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.