| This week Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it will open four hundred clinics
within its stores. Such move is meant to provide affordable health
care to the customers of the biggest retailer in the world. Lee Scott,
WalMart Chief Executive Officer noted that this policy should also
work to to increase the shop sales, as the in-store clinics will draw
more customers for the prescriptions and other retails products. "What
we are trying to do is to make it convenient for the customers to
receive quality health care. With our clinics you don't need an
appointment, and a visit to doctor will cost only about $65. Just as
with retail products we think health care does not have to be
expensive. A healthy customer is a happy customer, and we care about
our loyal shoppers," added Scott. WalMart will contract the
independent clinics and health organizations to open the offices
within its stores. Such expansion move is a continuation of the pilot
program Wal-Mart started in 2006 when it contracted about 70 clinics
to operate inside its stores. The program has been highly successful,
and gives positive forecast for the expansion in health services for
the retail giant. Its analysts says if the next two years follow the
same trend, the store plans to bring the number of in-store clinics to
2000 over the next five years. "This is a start of a good thing for
our shoppers which will expand into something even bigger, and even
better," said Mr. Scott.
In the last two years WalMart has been criticized for paying low wages
to its employees and tried to counter this criticism by talking with
the unions and finding solutions which suit both parties. While the
conflict has not been fully resolved, the retailer is making steps
towards the right direction, according to the unions.
In a constant struggle to bring the prices down and beat the
competitors, Wal-Mart is offering its customers generic drugs, which
cost only about $4, and account for over thirty percent of its
pharmacy sales. About thirty five percent of generic drugs are sold to
the customers without medical insurance.
WalMart is not the only large retailer which started putting clinics
in its stores. Some big pharmacy stores, like CVS Caremark Corp. and
Walgreen Co, also opened in-store clinics to attract the customers
with accessible health care which is also convenient as, shoppers can
receive a quick consultation or a check-up with a doctor as they visit
drug store. Most people said they like the fact that no prior
appointment is needed, thus no wait for weeks, which is one of the
biggest drawbacks in conventional clinics and hospitals. It's questionable whether WalMart would be able to cure milf hunter of his habits though. |
WalMart is opening 400 in-store clinics. They are called "walk-in" clinics because no appointment is necessary and you can visit them 7 days a week, 365 days a year. While it only costs $65 per visit, Wal-Mart clinics make big bucks. Primary patients are senior citizens with memory problems who visit them 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
