Dive Brief:

• Kmart and Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy have partnered to bring specialty medications and support to people with serious chronic conditions like HIV, Crohn’s disease, anemia, hepatitis C, cystic fibrosis, and others.

• Sears Holdings Corp.’s Kmart runs 800 pharmacies among its 1,150 locations.

• The deal will also enlist health care providers that can have access to patients’ medical files and work with them on issues like injection training and other support needs.

Dive Insight:

As more drugstore retailers get into the business of providing actual health care, Kmart is opting to provide a somewhat specialized service. The need for care for more serious chronic conditions is increasing, and this may be a good way for Kmart to focus on that niche, rather than opting for the wider scale that chains like CVS and Rite Aid seem to be investing in.