• MSNBC, Monday, August 18, 2008 10:45 AM

As recently as last year, Wal-Mart and other retailers were touting in-store health clinics as the wave of the future, offering basic health care at low cost and with fewer hassles. But widespread acceptance of the clinics appears to be slow, with many consumers skeptical about getting a checkup where they get their groceries.

Overall, there are about 981 retail health clinics currently operating in the U.S., according to Merchant Medicine, an industry consulting and research group. While some clinic operators have been expanding, others have given up. In the past year, Merchant Medicine estimates that 136 clinics have closed up shop, a trend it blames in part on financiers who lost patience when the clinics weren't showing quick profits.

Wal-Mart says it is optimistic about a more recent push to partner with local health care providers, who can tout the clinics as another way to access their branded, familiar services. Despite the setbacks, spokeswoman Christi Gallagher says the company remains committed to its goal of having 400 clinics in stores by 2010, and as many as 2,000 by 2014.

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