Walgreens Boots Alliance, the pharmacy group which operates chains of in the US and UK, has announced plans to cut its corporate staff numbers by around 10 per cent.

The company said that none of the 504 eliminated roles are based at its stores, micro-fulfillment outlets or call centres.

Walgreens Boots Alliance, one of the largest pharmacies in the US, is looking for ways to streamline operations and focus on consumer-facing healthcare. The company has also been looking to expand beyond its core business, acquiring healthcare services operator VillageMD and urgent-care provider Summit Health for $5.2 billion and $9 billion respectively.

The company has seen its market share shrink in recent years after closing several stores during the Covid-19 pandemic. It said that it is aiming to regain its top spot in the US market by the end of the 2023 fiscal year by reducing pay gap and increasing automation at its fulfilment centres.

The news comes at a time when other major players are expanding into the healthcare space. Amazon launched the Amazon Clinic telehealth platform in 32 US states in November 2022, and purchased membership-based healthcare provider One Medical for $3.9 billion earlier this year.

Share Story: