pharmacies

Bipartisan momentum is building in Washington against pharmacy benefit managers, the middlemen who negotiate drug prices and have been blamed for soaring prescription costs. Lawmakers from both parties are pushing for greater oversight and potential reforms of the industry, a rare area of common ground in a divided Congress.

German media report that a bailiff has carried out a seizure against the online pharmacy DocMorris over unpaid fines. The enforcement action, covered by WELT, highlights the company's dispute with German authorities over penalties it has refused to pay. The case raises questions about how far authorities can go in enforcing fines against a large cross-border mail-order pharmacy.

In France, discussion around vaccination is focused on rules allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer vaccines, with professional obligations outlined by health authorities. The topic covers both seasonal flu vaccination and Covid-19 booster campaigns. Interest appears tied to the ongoing vaccination season and questions about how pharmacy-based vaccination will work for patients and healthcare professionals.

Retailer GIANT has broadened its nutrition and pharmacy services for customers using GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes medications. The expanded support is aimed at helping shoppers manage diet and medication needs as demand for GLP-1 drugs continues to grow across the retail pharmacy sector.

Netmeds, the Indian online pharmacy, is promoting a 30% discount on first medicine orders for new customers. The offer is being widely circulated and has drawn large engagement as people share the deal for purchasing prescription and over-the-counter medicines online. It comes as online pharmacies continue competing aggressively to attract first-time buyers with steep introductory discounts.

Americans are getting their 2026 Covid vaccines alongside flu shots, with some available free at Kroger-affiliated pharmacies. One recipient noted that with so much else happening in the country and the world, it is unclear whether people are still paying attention to Covid. The item highlights how routine seasonal vaccination has become, receiving little of the attention it once did.

Giant Co., the US grocery retailer, is broadening its well-being services tailored to customers using GLP-1 weight-loss medications. The expanded offerings are aimed at supporting shoppers on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy with nutrition guidance and related in-store and pharmacy resources. The move reflects how grocers are racing to serve the fast-growing population of Americans taking GLP-1 treatments.

A US social media user is advising Americans without health insurance to check GoodRx for discount codes before paying for a Covid vaccine. They warn that walk-up prices at pharmacies can be dramatically inflated compared with the discounted rate, sometimes even for people who do have coverage.

The Alexandria Health Department is no longer offering free COVID-19 and flu tests to residents. The change means people in the Virginia city who want testing will need to rely on at-home kits, pharmacies, or healthcare providers, potentially paying out of pocket. The move follows the broader wind-down of pandemic-era public health funding that had supported free community testing programmes.

Bill's Prescription Center, a pharmacy in the Tampa Bay area, is in the news. Beyond local coverage naming the business, no specific event or development has been confirmed, so the reason it is drawing attention remains unknown.

CVS has agreed to pay $20.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit over its digital privacy practices. Under the settlement, class members may be eligible for payments after the company resolved claims tied to how it handled customer data. The deal, still subject to court approval, closes one of the larger privacy suits brought against a major US pharmacy retailer.

People without health insurance are being advised to use GoodRx discount codes to cut the cost of a Covid vaccination. The advice is that pharmacies may quote a high walk-in price, and that a GoodRx code can drop the price dramatically even for those without coverage. It comes as Covid shots are no longer universally free, leaving uninsured Americans to find ways to lower out-of-pocket costs.