Amazon announces major expansion of same-day medication delivery program

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced on Wednesday that its pharmacy business plans to open pharmacies in 20 new cities across the U.S. in 2025. The expansion will double the number of cities where customers can get same-day delivery of their medications. With the expansion into new cities, customers in Boston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Diego, and other metropolitan areas will be able to have free delivery of their medications. Other cities are expected to be announced in the coming months.

The e-commerce giant said it is leveraging its vast logistics network and advanced automation technology to solve one of the industry’s pain points: the lack of convenient, affordable access to medications. To that end, Amazon Pharmacy’s RxPass now offers Prime members on Medicare unlimited access to 60 eligible prescription medications for just $5 a month, plus fast, free delivery. Notably, the new pharmacies will be embedded in Amazon (AMZN) same-day delivery sites, which is seen enabling faster delivery of medication directly to a customer’s door.

Amazon Pharmacy is described as a digital-first pharmacy offering a simple ordering experience, 24/7 access to a pharmacist, and many ways to save. “In health care, speed and accessibility are critical for positive patient outcomes,” stated Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy. “There’s often an important window of time after getting diagnosed when it’s most vital to start your medication. At Amazon, we’re using our world-class delivery capabilities to get medicine to patients within hours of being prescribed. This rapid access increases the likelihood patients engage immediately in their care and adhere to treatment routines, which is shown to improve health outcomes.”