Post by : Saif
Al-Najjar
Amazon, the global e-commerce giant, is taking a new step to make healthcare more convenient. In December 2025, Amazon Pharmacy will start offering electronic kiosks at some One Medical primary care locations. These kiosks will allow patients to pick up common prescription medicines in person, rather than waiting for home delivery. The initiative aims to reduce barriers to access, lower shipping costs, and make prescriptions faster for patients.
The first kiosks will be available to One Medical patients in Los Angeles. They will carry commonly used medicines, including antibiotics, asthma inhalers, and treatments for high blood pressure. Amazon says that patients without a One Medical membership can also use the kiosks if they book an appointment. One Medical currently operates with a membership model costing $199 per year, giving access to primary and urgent care services.
Hannah McClellan Richards, Vice President at Amazon Pharmacy, said this will be the company’s first in-person pick-up service. “Previously, Amazon Pharmacy mainly delivered prescriptions to homes. These kiosks bring the medicine closer to the patient, making it faster and more convenient,” she explained. The kiosks will also allow patients to consult a pharmacist virtually if needed.
Amazon plans to expand the kiosk model outside California in 2026. The company is also in discussions with other health systems to introduce these machines through partnerships. However, not all medicines will be available at the kiosks. Drugs that need refrigeration, like certain weight-loss medicines, or tightly regulated prescriptions such as controlled pain medications, will not be offered. Each kiosk’s inventory will be customized based on the healthcare provider’s patient needs.
Amazon’s pharmacy services began in 2018 with the acquisition of PillPack, which focused on home delivery of medicines. In 2023, Amazon purchased One Medical, a national primary care provider, to further strengthen its healthcare offerings. Analysts have previously raised concerns that shipping and logistics costs can affect Amazon’s profits. By placing prescription inventory closer to patients, Amazon expects to reduce delivery costs and meet higher demand more efficiently.
Brian Olsavsky, Amazon’s Chief Financial Officer, noted that strategic product placement is key to improving cost efficiency. “If you put inventory closer to customers, your shipping costs go way down and your demand goes way up,” he said. The new kiosks reflect Amazon’s strategy to combine technology, logistics, and healthcare services to improve accessibility and affordability for patients.
The introduction of electronic prescription kiosks may also set a trend for the pharmacy industry. By offering patients faster access to medicines without home delivery delays, Amazon Pharmacy is working to create a more flexible and patient-friendly healthcare experience. The company believes this innovation can help reduce wait times, increase convenience, and improve overall satisfaction for patients across the United States.
With its combination of online pharmacy expertise and in-person healthcare support through One Medical, Amazon is positioning itself as a major player in the evolving healthcare landscape. Patients in Los Angeles will be the first to experience this new service, which could expand nationwide in the near future.
English
