With footprints in local communities across the country, retailers have the food, the medicine, the pharmacist and now even the access to local and convenient care consumers need.
At its first investor day since the start of the pandemic, CVS Health detailed plans to open primary care centers and integrate them with its other health services. At the same time, CVS plans to close 900 stores as it focuses on this new strategy.
The company launched a new health division, and has doubled down on its plans to open primary care clinics with VillageMD. It faces big competitors in CVS and Walmart, and it’ll take time to see if its new strategy pays off.
CVS recently launched a virtual primary care plan through a partnership with Teladoc, and is redesigning its stores to offer a broader array of health services. In an earnings call, CEO Karen Lynch said the company is starting to get traction with its new insurance plan designs.
Walgreens plans to invest a total of $5.2 billion in VillageMD, up from its original plans to buy a $1 billion stake in the primary care company. It’s part of a broader consumer health strategy Walgreens plans to use to grow its business in the future.