Wal-Mart to expand walk-in health clinics

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) plans to open 400 in-store walk-in health clinics in the next three years, and could increase that number 2,000 within seven years. CEO Lee Scott said that "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."

Wal-Mart currently operates less than 100 of these clinics, and plans to lease the space out to local hospitals or other organizations. They will be run as a separate business, with Wal-Mart's revenue coming from the rent income.

Wal-Mart continues to make progress on offering affordable health care alternatives to its customers, if not its associates. Last year the company started a $4 generic prescription drug program, and has also joined a business and labor coalition seeking comprehensive health care reform by 2012.

Wal-Mart could have a unique opportunity to combine this program with their employee benefits. If the company offered its workers and their families free in-store medical care, it could quickly become a leader in providing affordable health care to its employees. Wal-Mart has the size and power to have a positive impact on its workers lives, and it just might start doing that.