Amazon is set to introduce vending machines filled with prescription medications at its One Medical clinics, enabling patients to collect their medications promptly after consultations. The kiosks will feature a variety of commonly prescribed drugs, such as antibiotics, inhalers, and blood pressure medications.
The initiative will roll out at One Medical locations in Los Angeles starting in December, with intentions to broaden the service to additional cities in the future. Amazon mentioned that the types of medications available at each kiosk will depend on the “prescribing patterns of each office location,” while noting that controlled substances and medications needing refrigeration will not be included.
These vending machines are designed to facilitate immediate access to essential medications, reducing the need for patients to visit traditional pharmacies and decreasing the likelihood of unfilled prescriptions. Patients can opt to have their prescriptions sent to an Amazon Pharmacy and then retrieved at the in-office kiosks. One of Amazon’s pharmacists will verify the prescriptions, allowing patients to pay via a QR code on the Amazon app and obtain their medications in a matter of minutes, according to the company’s announcement.
Hannah McClellan, president of Amazon Pharmacy operations, emphasized the importance of this service, stating, “We know that when patients have to make an extra trip to the pharmacy after seeing their doctor, many prescriptions never get filled. By bringing the pharmacy directly to the point of care, we’re removing a critical barrier and helping patients start their treatment when it matters most — right away.”
Users of the Amazon Pharmacy kiosks will also benefit from consultations via phone or video with Amazon’s pharmacy team for any medication-related questions, similar to the services provided at traditional pharmacy counters, McClellan added. The introduction of these kiosks comes at a time when physical pharmacies in the U.S. face increasing competition and declining profit margins, with several Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens locations closing in recent years, diminishing in-person prescription access for patients.
