City Council Asks If Retail Medical Clinics Favor Suburbs Over City

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia City Council members say they will continue to watch local retail chains following a hearing which asked why some chains have retail medical clinics in the suburbs but not in city locations.

City Councilman Curtis Jones called the hearing to find out why it is easier to find a retail medical clinic in the suburbs than at the city locations of those same chains. "The cost of cough syrup is the same in the suburbs as it is at 60th and Market, therefore the services should be the same. If you did it in the suburbs you should have at least a rationale as to why you do it or don't do it in the inner cities," said Jones.

CVS was the only retail chain that showed up to testify. That firm's representatives said the recession curbed the growth of these clinics at city locations but assured lawmakers that a greater expansion is now in the planning stages.

Reported by: Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio