Amazon is launching prescription vending machines at its One Medical clinics in Los Angeles starting this December, allowing patients to collect medications immediately after their appointments.
These kiosks stock a range of frequently prescribed drugs such as antibiotics, inhalers, and blood pressure treatments, tailored to each clinic’s prescribing habits. Controlled substances and refrigerated medications are excluded.
Patients can send their prescriptions directly to Amazon Pharmacy and use the Amazon app to pay and retrieve their medication via a QR code, with approvals done remotely by a pharmacist. This initiative aims to reduce the number of prescriptions left unfilled by eliminating trips to separate pharmacies.
Hannah McClellan, vice president of operations at Amazon Pharmacy, noted, “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.”
The rollout follows Amazon’s acquisitions of PillPack in 2018 and One Medical in 2023, expanding its healthcare footprint.
With traditional pharmacy chains closing stores amid industry challenges, Amazon’s kiosks could significantly alter how prescriptions are dispensed by offering faster, more convenient access at the point of care.
Amazon plans to broaden this service nationwide in 2026.