The move comes as the Cincinnati-based grocer faces increased competition from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which last month said it was offering the same deal in its low-cost prescription program.

Kroger says its new generic drug program is available this week in all 1,900 in-store pharmacies.

Last fall Kroger and other retail chains began offering more than 300 generic drugs for $4 per prescription.

The drugs offered in Kroger's new program include generic drugs used to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis.