Amazon opens prescription kiosks at One Medical clinics in Los Angeles. Patients will be able to receive medication immediately after an appointment without visiting a pharmacy.
Amazon launches pharmacy kiosks at One Medical clinics
Amazon has announced the launch of Amazon Pharmacy Kiosks at One Medical clinics, which will allow patients to receive medication immediately after a visit to the doctor.
The first kiosks will be operational in Los Angeles in December, and the service is planned to be expanded to other US cities later.
How Amazon Pharmacy kiosks work
After a doctor writes a prescription, the patient can select the “In-office pickup” option through the Amazon application. Payment is made by phone, and the order is prepared in a few minutes.
The kiosks are stocked with the most popular drugs – antibiotics, inhalers, and hypertension drugs. The assortment of each kiosk is selected based on local statistics of doctor’s appointments of a specific clinic.
Controlled substances or medications that require refrigeration are not yet available.
Transparent payment and consultations
Patients can see the full cost of drugs, discounts and insurance co-payments directly in the Amazon application.
Online consultation with a pharmacist is also available – via video call or phone.
“Many patients do not reach the pharmacy after a doctor’s appointment. We want to eliminate this problem,” explained Anna McClellan, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy.
Competition with traditional pharmacies
Amazon’s decision comes against the backdrop of a crisis in the pharmacy retail chain in the US:
- Rite Aid has closed all stores,
- CVS has cut more than 1,000 locations,
- Walgreens – another 500 last year.
The new kiosks could increase pressure on traditional pharmacies, as Amazon offers a faster, cheaper, and more technologically advanced way to get your medications.
Amazon expands its medical empire
- In 2018, Amazon bought online pharmacy PillPack for $750 million.
- In 2020, it launched Amazon Pharmacy.
- In 2022, it acquired the One Medical clinic chain.
Now, having integrated all areas, the company is forming a full-fledged healthcare ecosystem — from appointment booking to medication dispensing.
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