Walmart, the retail giant from Bentonville, Arkansas, has decided to close its health centers and virtual care services after struggling to find success with these offerings. The company launched its health centers five years ago, with the goal of helping people save money on their health care needs. However, Walmart announced on Tuesday that there is not a sustainable business model for them to continue operating these services.
The decision to close the health centers comes as a surprise, as Walmart had previously announced plans to add more than two dozen health centers to some of its stores this year. The company had been looking to open 28 new centers in 2024, focusing on areas like Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Kansas City, Missouri. However, the realization that the care business was unsustainable has led to the closure of the existing health centers.
Walmart does not have specific dates for when the health centers will close but stated that employees are eligible to transfer to any other Walmart or Sam’s Club location. Despite closing its health centers and virtual care service, Walmart will continue to operate almost 4,600 pharmacies and more than 3,000 vision centers in the U.S.