Amazon Automates Access: Prescription Kiosks Coming to One Medical Clinics
E-commerce giant Amazon Pharmacy is set to introduce prescription vending machines at its One Medical clinics. Through these new in-office kiosks, patients will be able to collect their prescribed medicines directly after consultations, reports TechCrunch.
The service will first launch in December across One Medical clinics in Los Angeles, with plans to expand to other cities later.
After receiving a prescription, patients can choose to send it directly to Amazon Pharmacy. Once payment is made via the mobile app, the medication will be prepared within minutes.
The kiosks will dispense common prescription medicines such as antibiotics, inhalers, and blood pressure medications. However, controlled substances or drugs requiring refrigeration will not be available through these machines.
Patients can view prices, discounts, and insurance copay details in the Amazon app and, if necessary, consult a pharmacist via video or phone.
Hannah McClellan, Vice President of Amazon Pharmacy, said, “Many patients fail to follow their prescriptions properly because they have to make a separate trip to the pharmacy after visiting the doctor.”
Notably, since 2021, major U.S. pharmacy chains such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid have been facing severe disruptions. Industry analysts suggest that this new initiative could further strengthen Amazon’s footprint in the healthcare sector.
