14 Oct 2022
Walmart Aiming to Tackle Health Equity in Clinical Research
Author:
Rebecca CoyleSenior Consultant, Advisory and InsightsHLTH
Walmart has announced the launch of the Walmart Healthcare Research Institute to address clinical trial diversity, aiming to improve community access to trials for traditionally underrepresented populations. The initiative will initially focus on recruiting older adults, rural residents, women, and minorities for studies on treatments for chronic conditions and other illnesses, which may lead to safer, more equitable healthcare.
Why it’s Notable:
- According to the FDA, clinical trials have long been misrepresentative of the population, and the U.S. Government and FDA are working towards improving representation of racial and ethnic populations in research. The retailer is aiming to leverage its reach and resources to improve access to targeted healthcare opportunities for the communities it serves.
- Walmart’s expansion into healthcare has been led by its commitment to improving community health. As well as operating 10,500 stores worldwide, the world’s biggest retailer now has over 5,000 pharmacies across the U.S., 32 Walmart Health Centers, and has recently signed a 10-year agreement with insurer UnitedHealth Group, providing access to 10 million Medicare Advantage subscribers and over 50,000 physicians.
Industry Implications:
- Similar to trends in Big Tech, this is another significant advancement of a traditional retailer into the healthcare space in recent months, with Amazon, Walgreens and CVS all vying for slices of the industry. Walmart now joins pharmacy retailers CVS and Walgreens in launching clinical trial services, and it will be interesting to see Walmart can offer similar low cost opportunities in healthcare as does in other areas of business.
- 5% more Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart compared to CVS, with the former predominantly focused on serving rural and suburban regions. With 4,000 stores in underserved areas in the U.S. Walmart's extensive footprint may better impact the medically underserved in clinical trials, which may have major repercussions for drug safety and efficacy considerations. It is estimated that 1 in 5 drugs have varied responses in ethnic groups, yet Hispanic, Black and Asian populations represented just 11%, 8% and 6% in trials in 2020 respectively.
Read the full article here.
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