As Amazon Pharmacy’s prescription division grows, it is launching same-day prescription delivery services in New York and Los Angeles, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. This strategic move positions Amazon to compete with industry giants like Walgreens and CVS Health, which already offer nationwide same-day prescription delivery services. While Walgreens has been providing this service for approximately three years, CVS boasts same-day distribution across all its 9,000+ locations in the United States, including the District of Columbia.
Amazon’s same-day delivery initiative, unveiled recently, will initially debut in New York City and the broader Los Angeles area, with plans to expand to over 12 additional locations by the end of 2024. The company will utilize advanced technologies such as generative artificial intelligence and machine learning to support pharmacists in expediting prescription fulfillment, often reducing the processing time to mere hours by considering individual patient needs.
Dr. Vin Gupta, Chief Medical Officer at Amazon Pharmacy, emphasized the significance of timely diagnosis and treatment, stating, “We are simplifying the entire diagnostic and therapeutic process, making it not just simple but also swift.” Amazon is establishing compact facilities stocked with commonly prescribed medications for chronic conditions in proximity to customers’ residences to facilitate prompt same-day deliveries.
For example, Amazon’s new small-script facility in Brooklyn focuses on urgent care needs, offering a subset of the 12,000+ medications available on Amazon.com. Equipped with a dedicated team of physicians and fulfillment experts, this site can process prescriptions within hours. Amazon’s AI systems play a pivotal role in verifying prescription accuracy, especially when handling handwritten or digital prescriptions.
While AI drives the operational efficiency to a large extent, the delivery methods may vary across different regions. Urban areas might witness eco-friendly e-bike deliveries, while drones or electric vans, like Rivian’s, could be deployed in other locations. Amazon has already rolled out Same-Day Delivery services in cities like Austin, Indianapolis, Miami, Phoenix, and Seattle, with innovative options such as drone deliveries in under an hour for customers in College Station, Texas.
This expansion of same-day delivery services marks Amazon’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in the prescription drug market. Partnering with Blue Shield of California and other key players, including Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs and Abarca, Amazon aims to manage prescription costs for millions of health plan members. Furthermore, by integrating artificial intelligence into prescription approval processes, Amazon’s partners seek to streamline medication authorization, ensuring patients receive the correct treatment promptly and accurately under physician supervision.
