It’s not enough to be a clothing store, grocer, pharmacy, auto servicer and more. It looks as if Wal-Mart Stores Inc. now plans to play doctor too.
The largest retailer in the country recently sent out a request for information to potential partners to help it offer a range of medical services without the traditionally steep prices.
In the 14-page document, Wal-Mart said that it “intends to build a national, integrated, low-cost primary care healthcare platform that will provide preventative and chronic care services … in an affordable and accessible way.”
Among the areas Wal-Mart is exploring: HIV management, obesity and arthritis monitoring, depression care, pregnancy and STD testing, drug screening, physical exams and even stress and sleep help.
Wal-Mart said it would select partner vendors for clinical care, diagnostic and preventative services, health and wellness products and more by mid-January.
Company spokeswoman Tara Raddohl confirmed that Wal-Mart had sent out the request but added that the announcement is “certainly not indicating we are offering medical services beyond our current Clinic operations.”
All this not long after Wal-Mart said that it would no longer give new part-time employees health insurance benefits.
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-- Tiffany Hsu
Photo credit: J.D. Pooley / Getty Images
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