Walmart doubled retail clinics in 2010; Other chains flat

The growth of major chains of retail health clinics was flat in 2010 except for Walmart, which more than doubled the number of clinics in its stores from 54 to 117, according to a report from an analyst firm that follows the industry.

Minnesota-based Merchant Medicine LLC released a year-end report on retail health clinics that showed the largest operator, MinuteClinic, owned by CVS, had 454 clinics, three fewer at the end of 2010 than in 2009. Take Care, owned by Walgreens, added two clinics last year to bring their total to 357.

Merchant Medicine pointed out, however, that Walmart does not own or operate any of its clinics, but rather leases store space to operators.