Amazon Expands to the Online Pharmacy Business

Amazon – the online retail giant, has always been expanding and adding new lines of business. The latest of these businesses: Amazon pharmacy. Rumors of Amazon joining the Pharmaceutical business have always been making rounds since the time they acquired Whole Food Market back in 2017 and PillPack in 2018. 

The fact that everyone may need medicine at any point means the potential market for treatment will likely be more significant than any products they are currently selling. The only drawback will be solving for the delivery times, as most people buy medicine when they need it immediately. 

With this new addition, prime customers will also reap more benefits than non-prime customers. Those with Prime membership will be getting discounts of up to 80% for generic brands and 40% for branded drugs on Amazon pharmacy and the 50,000 other pharmacies on the platform. Prime customers will also be getting free two-day delivery on all products shipped from Amazon pharmacy.

PillPack helped many people with chronic diseases quickly get access to a wide range of treatments more conveniently. With these services combined with Amazon’s sophisticated technology, more people worldwide will be able to get medicine much faster and cheaper than ever before. 

However, to get medication from Amazon pharmacy, one needs to have a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. The prescription fulfillment request will be made either via the desktop site or the Amazon app. Amazon has also put in place a team of pharmacists that can be accessed via telephone 24/7 if one has questions about their medication. 

Amazon pharmacy is currently available in 45 states and the district of Columbia. Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Minnesota will also get this service soon. The rate at which this service will be available in other USA states and countries outside the USA will depend on several factors that include verification of health care providers and pharmacies within those regions.