The decision to close the health centers, which were primarily located in smaller towns where customers might lack access to quality care, represents an abrupt reversal for the supermarket chain.

Walmart’s experiment in the muddled healthcare sector was not sustainable, according to company executives who announced the closure of 51 health clinics across five states and complementary telehealth operations.

Walmart will close its 51 health centers and virtual care services, citing reimbursement challenges and growing operating costs as the primary reasons for the decision.

Walmart announced plans to shutter its network of 51 health clinics, which are located in five states, along with its telehealth business.

Walmart announced that the big box retailer will shutter all Walmart Health clinics that it operates across five states. The company plans to close Walmart Health centers in the next 90 days to give patients the opportunity to find other providers over the next three months.

Walmart said on Tuesday it will close all 51 of its health clinics and shut its virtual health care operations, saying it could not see it as a sustainable business model to continue.

In an abrupt switch, Walmart plans to shut 51 health clinics in six states and pull the plug on telemedicine services.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, said Tuesday that it was shutting down its health care centers, a network that only last year it said it planned to expand. The retailer said in a blog post that its 51 health centers would close.