Amazon announced on Wednesday that it’s debuting prescription vending machines at its One Medical clinics. The new in-office kiosks, which are operated by Amazon Pharmacy, let patients pick up their prescriptions immediately after their appointment.
Amazon Pharmacy Kiosks will be available at One Medical locations in Los Angeles starting in December, and Amazon plans to expand to more locations soon after.
After a provider writes a prescription, patients can choose to have it sent to Amazon Pharmacy for in-office kiosk pickup. Patients then use their phone to check out in the Amazon app, after which medications are typically “ready in minutes,” Amazon says.
The kiosks have a range of commonly prescribed medications, including antibiotics, inhalers, and blood pressure medications. Amazon notes that each kiosk’s inventory is customized based on the prescribing patterns of its specific office location, and that controlled substances and medications requiring refrigeration are not available through the kiosks.
Patients will be able to use the Amazon app to see upfront costs, including available discounts and estimated insurance copays, and connect to a licensed pharmacist via video or phone consultation if needed.
“We know that when patients have to make an extra trip to the pharmacy after seeing their doctor, many prescriptions never get filled,” said Hannah McClellan, vice president of operations at Amazon Pharmacy, in a press release.
U.S. pharmacy chains are struggling; Rite Aid last week closed all of its remaining stores; CVS has closed more than 1,000 stores since 2021; and Walgreens closed 500 stores over the past year.
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Amazon’s new kiosks could disrupt brick-and-mortar pharmacy businesses even more.
The launch of the kiosks marks Amazon’s latest move to expand its presence in the healthcare sector. In 2018, Amazon purchased online pharmacy PillPack for $750 million and then launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020. Two year later, it bought primary care provider One Medical.