Walmart Unveils First Medical Center in Mexico City

Walmart Mexico inaugurated its first medical center in Iztapalapa, Mexico City at the beginning of the month, aiming to compete with Farmacias Similares and Salud Digna. 

The new medical center will offer consultations with internists and pediatricians starting at MX$360 (US$19.55), along with services from dentists, nutritionists and psychologists, beginning at MX$263 (US$14.28). It will also provide a range of diagnostic services such as laboratory tests, X-rays, ultrasounds and electrocardiograms. The facility is designed to accommodate up to 450 people daily within its 307m2. 

In 2022, the company launched the Health Membership, available at Bodega Aurrerá and Walmart Supercenter locations. This membership grants customers access to medical consultations in its clinics for a monthly fee ranging from MX$30 (US$1.63) to MX$149 (US$8.09). The membership covers various medical, nutritional and psychological services via phone or video calls, home visits by doctors and discounts on laboratory services. 

"We know that to live better, access to comprehensive health solutions is fundamental for our customers. That is why today we are very excited to inaugurate our Medical Services Center, which adds to the omnichannel ecosystem of easy and accessible health solutions and services for our customers in Mexico,” said Guilherme Loureiro, Executive President and CEO, Walmart Mexico and Central America, in a press release. .

Walmart Mexico operates over 1,500 pharmacies and 500 clinics across the country. By the end of 2022, these pharmacy-adjacent clinics had seen over 1 million patients, according to the company. Additionally, Walmart Mexico has been operating the Medimart brand since 2007, offering over 700 generic medicines and treatments.

The trend of retailers entering the medical industry is just beginning. Recently, Costco also began offering healthcare services, providing US$29 medical consultations through a partnership with Sesame, a healthcare-focused marketplace. Similarly, companies like Amazon, Kroger and Best Buy have ventured into the US$12 trillion global healthcare industry.