BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 22, 2025 — Walmart is expanding access to affordable, convenient healthcare with the opening of its largest centralized prescription processing facility to date in Frederick, Maryland. The 102,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art site is designed to fulfill up to 100,000 prescriptions a day, supporting more than 700 stores across 16 states and Washington, D.C.
With this launch, Walmart continues to scale its Central Fill operations to meet growing demand for faster, more convenient pharmacy services including online shopping with fast delivery of prescriptions as well as pharmacist provided clinical services including immunizations and testing and treatment for strep throat, flu and COVID.
Two more facilities are in development — one in Phoenix, Arizona, and another in Republic, Missouri — and are expected to open in 2026. Together, these investments are core to Walmart’s pharmacy strategy: simplifying the refill process, improving health outcomes and freeing up pharmacists to focus on care. Central Fill automation is part of Walmart’s investment in automation, fueling our human-led, tech-powered approach to serving customers.
Putting people first — and tech to work
This facility uses advanced pharmacy automation with dynamic weighting systems, robotic carriers and an expansive conveyance route to streamline every step of prescription fulfillment, from pill counting and labeling to capping and sorting. It employs pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, as well as patient safety associates combining expert oversight with leading-edge efficiency.
By shifting fulfillment to centralized facilities, in-store pharmacists gain more time for clinical services such as immunizations, diabetes management, testing and treatment, and patient counseling. A recent study found that central fill operations can boost pharmacist-patient interactions by 30 percent, allowing pharmacists to work at the top of their license.
“This facility represents the next chapter in how we care for our customers,” said Kevin Host, senior vice president of Pharmacy at Walmart. “With greater efficiency behind the scenes, our pharmacists can spend more time in front of patients — offering expert guidance, building trust and delivering better health outcomes.”
Meeting patients where they are
With 4,000 stores located in areas affected by a shortage of medical providers, Walmart pharmacies are often the most accessible healthcare provider in the community. Many clinical services happen during evenings and weekends — 75% after 5 p.m. — when other providers may be unavailable. That makes Walmart a key resource for everything from flu shots and expanded vaccines to chronic condition care. Central Fill serves as an integral unlock for more of these services to happen.
“I see firsthand how important convenience and accessibility are for our patients,” said Ugo Nwachukwu, a Walmart pharmacy manager in Alexandria, Virginia. “Whether someone needs a prescription delivery, help managing a disease state or a walk-in vaccine before a trip, they know they can count on us to be there.”
Convenience is key: By strengthening its Central Fill network, Walmart is making it even easier for customers to get the medications and health services they need, on their schedule.
Building the infrastructure for better care
The Frederick site has been in development since early 2023 and marks a major milestone in Walmart’s broader health and wellness strategy. With new locations coming online in Arizona and Missouri, Central Fill will continue to play a leading role in helping pharmacists spend less time on process and more time on people.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
