Wal-Mart Has Everything Including Doctors?

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to lease space to 400 health clinics in the next two to three years. Making health care accessible to all patients. Wal-Mart says that if the plan proves effective in market forces than it will open 2,000 clinics in the next five to seven years.

Currently Wal-Mart has 76 clinics in their stores in 12 states. This pilot program began in 2005 when Wal-Mart leased space to local or regional hospitals and/or other organizations. The clinics that Wal-Mart intends to lease space to will be independent of Wal-Mart and also must post prices for routine services and procedures.

Wal-Mart is trying to curb the health care epidemic in the United States. Being able to provide affordable health care without putting a strain on community health care institutions. CEO and President of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. attended a meeting of the World Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C.

Scott says, "We think the clinics will be a great opportunity for our business. But most importantly, they are going to provide something our customers and communities desperately need - affordable access at the local level to quality health care."

Scott also goes on to say, "The fact is the time for politics in today's debate on health care is long past. The time for real and meaningful change has come. Yes, this is about economics. But above all, it is about our health. It is about all of us -- all 300 million Americans -- living the fullest and best lives we can."

This is all a part of Wal-Mart's goal to bring affordable health care to Americans. It began it's goal by offering generic prescriptions drugs for $4. The statistic show that American's have saved 290 billion dollars with this prescription plan since it began in September 2006. In that short period 35% of prescriptions filled at Wal-Mart Stores fall under the $4 program with only 5% of those prescriptions being filled by patients with insurance.

Scott says, "The response has been nothing short of spectacular," speaking about the $4 program. "Within days of announcing our $4 program, countless other discounters, drug stores and supermarkets dropped their prices on generic prescriptions. That has surely saved our health care system millions of more dollars. So let there be no doubt that the private sector can lead."

Wal-Mart is leading the way to affordable health care in hopes that others will join them. Wal-Mart is currently working with others in business and government on the "Better Health Care Together" coalition. Their goal is to provide all Americans with accessibility to affordable and quality health care by 2012.

(http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/4973.aspx)