Walmart announces $3.1bn plan to settle opioids lawsuits

Retail giant is latest major chain to settle lawsuits with state and local governments across the US over toll of opioids sold at its pharmacies

Retail giant Walmart on Tuesday become the latest major player in the drug industry to announce a plan to settle lawsuits filed by state and local governments over the toll of powerful prescription opioids sold at its pharmacies with state and local governments across the US.

The $3.1bn proposal follows similar announcements on 2 November from the two largest US pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreen Co, which each said they would pay about $5bn.