(NEWSnet/AP) — Walmart is closing its health centers and virtual care service after struggling to find success, the U.S. retailer said Tuesday.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said that after managing the clinics it launched in 2019 and expanding its telehealth program, it concluded “there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue.”

Walmart had 51 health centers in five states.

In recent years, Walmart made a big push into health care by opening clinics next to its superstores that offered primary and urgent care, labs, x-rays, behavioral health and dental work in six states.

Walmart targeted rural and under-served areas with a shortage of primary care facilities.

“This is a difficult decision, and like others, the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs create a lack of profitability that make the care business unsustainable for us at this time,” the company said in a statement.

A spokeswoman said reimbursement proved challenging “from all types of insurance.”

The planned closure of the Walmart Health centers comes after the company announced in March 2023 that it planned to add more than two dozen health centers to some of its stores this year. 

Walmart does not yet have specific dates for when its health centers will close, but said that it will share that information when it’s available. 

Walmart still runs almost 4,600 pharmacies and more than 3,000 vision centers in the U.S.

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