Retail clinics continue to prosper, market research firm concludes

NEW YORK As healthcare costs continue to soar, and millions of underinsured and uninsured Americans turn to more affordable health services provided by retail-based clinics, the outlook for the convenient care industry looks healthy despite the current recession, according to a recent report by independent market research firm Kalorama Information.

“It’s a concept that makes a lot of sense in the current economy,” stated Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “For the unemployed, this is their place to get routine medical care. There won’t be an explosion of new locations right now, but the existing locations will prosper. Most importantly, the double benefit of the clinics is that they drive sales into the drug stores and food stores, mostly for purchases of OTC products.”

According to its “Retail Clinics and the In-Store Healthcare Market 2009: Bright Spot in the Current Economy?” report, the retail clinic market was valued at $545.9 million in 2008, increasing 130.6% per year since 2003.

The U.S. retail clinic industry is at an early stage of growth and will continue at a healthy pace, though Kalorama expects the pace to slow to 29.6% through 2013. The current economy will hamper rapid revenue growth for the time being, but that should resume after 2012, Kalorama stated.