Institute For The Future

A British twist on a GHE trend

On the Global Health Economy map, we identified retail health as a "big story" that led us to "[e]xpect innovations such as in-store clinics to open new channels to consumer health markets and enable to providers to extend services beyond traditional settings."

 

An Associated Press story from Manchester, England, confirms that this trend has spread to the Great Britain, although under different conditions. Britain, of course, provides universal health care via its National Health Service (NHS). So the services at the clinic that Dr. Mohammed Jiva opened yesterday in a J. Sainsbury supermarket are free of charge, and the clinic is subject to NHS rules. For example, only Manchester locals can use it, and they must book an appointment.

 

The small clinic--located across from the yogurt and fruit aisle--certainly extends services beyond traditional settings. Jiva decided to hang out his shingle in Sainsbury's because he saw an opportunity (and a need) to serve people who can't find time to get to the doctor during working hours. The clinic will be open weekdays, two evenings a week and Saturday.

 

The story reports:

While the British Medical Association has raised concerns about health care being provided in the same place that patients can stock up on cigarettes and splurge on sweets, Jiva believes his practice might spur some responsible shopping.

 

"We can assist the public health agenda around obesity and coronary heart disease," he said.

 

In-store clinics in U.S. retail outlets might also consider leveraging the opportunities for promoting healthy shopping decisions and providing health education.