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Walmart is opening 25 new pharmacies to focus on patients with autoimmune diseases, the company announced on July 25.
As the third most common disease category in the US, roughly 50 million people (nearly 15% of the population) have an autoimmune disease, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. And while that number is likely an undercount due to how difficult these conditions can be to diagnose, autoimmunity has reached “epidemic levels” in the US, according to the National Health Council.
The 25 new pharmacies come after Walmart piloted six autoimmune-focused pharmacies in October 2023.
“These new locations will continue to make this specialized care more accessible,” Kevin Host, SVP of Walmart Health and Wellness Pharmacy, said in an emailed statement. “Since piloting this effort less than a year ago, our teams have seen the need, and recognized how to impact the communities we serve in meaningful ways.”
Walmart is branding the pharmacies as “specialty pharmacies of the community” that have a trained staff, a specialty designation, and condition-specific services.
The specialty pharmacies focus on treatments for the three most common types of autoimmune diseases: conditions affecting joints, like rheumatoid arthritis; diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; and others affecting the skin, such as psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis.
The pharmacies are located in nine states across the country, including Alabama, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. Pharmacists will provide specialty services like care coordination, lifestyle recommendations, and emotional support services, according to Walmart.
Walmart didn’t immediately respond to Healthcare Brew’s request for comment.