St. Vincent de Paul opens pharmacy

Poor people who are uninsured or unable to get coverage can now get free prescription drugs at a St. Vincent de Paul pharmacy on Fish Hatchery Road.

The pharmacy, which quietly opened last month and has a grand opening Tuesday, is believed to be Wisconsins first stand-alone charitable pharmacy, organizers said.

St. Vincent de Paul for years has issued vouchers to people in need so they can get free medications at Dean Clinic, said Ernie Stetenfeld, associate executive director.

The on-site pharmacy will allow the nonprofit Catholic lay organization to avoid having to pay another pharmacys filling fee, Stetenfeld said.

The pharmacy is buying low-cost drugs through Dispensary of Hope, which works with charitable programs.

Donations, including a lead gift from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, covered most of the $200,000 in set-up costs. The annual cost to run the pharmacy will be about $150,000.

Yolanda Tolson, a licensed pharmacist, was hired to manage the operation.

Volunteer pharmacists and students from the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy will help staff it, Stetenfeld said.

The pharmacy will stock relatively low-cost drugs for common conditions, such as infections, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some psychiatric illnesses. No narcotics will be available.

Vouchers for other pharmacies might still be provided for medications not available at the St. Vincent de Paul pharmacy, Stetenfeld said.

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St. Vincent de Paul opens pharmacy