Walgreens, VillageMD plan big expansion in Tampa

Walgreens Boots Alliance and VillageMd continue to expand in Florida.

The two companies will open 20 full-service primary care clinics at Walgreens stores in the Tampa area during the next year. The first Village Medical location at Walgreens in Tampa opened on Oct. 26 in Pinellas Park, with several more openings to follow in early 2022.

Tampa will be the second major market in Florida for Walgreens and VillageMD, following Orlando, which will have 10 locations by the end of 2021.

The move comes as the number of Florida residents with multiple chronic diseases is growing. If current trends continue, in 2030, more than 6 million people in Florida will be living with three or more chronic diseases. At the same time,  many residents lack access to primary care. 

Walgreens and VillageMD formed a strategic partnership in 2020. In October, Walgreens said it would invest $5.2 billion in VillageMD, increasing its ownership stake in the company from 30% to 63%.

Walgreens said the investment will accelerate the opeing of at least 600 Village Medical primary care clinics at Walgreens locations in more than 30 U.S. markets by 2025, with a goal of 1,000 by 2027 More than 80 locations will be opened by the end of 2021.

Through the Walgreens and VillageMD coordinated care model, patients receive comprehensive primary care from physicians alongside convenient pharmacy services. Village Medical primary care physicians and Walgreens pharmacists work together to provide care for chronic conditions, as well as everyday illnesses and injuries. 

[Read More: Exclusive Q&A: Walgreens digitally streamlines healthcare access]