Amazon.com Inc. said that it is expanding its foray into healthcare by providing US Prime members with a $5 per month subscription package that would cover a variety of generic medications and their doorstep delivery.
According to Vin Gupta, Amazon Pharmacy’s chief medical officer, the RxPass programme contains more than 50 drugs that treat more than 80 chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, anxiety, diabetes, and male pattern baldness.
Customers cannot join Amazon Pharmacy’s RxPass service if they are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government health programme.
“The average Prime member would save about $100 per year with RxPass, Amazon Prime members in most US states can sign up for the program starting Tuesday.”
John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy
Without insurance and in addition to the Prime membership fee, which in the US is $139 a year, the flat $5 fee would apply.
The newly launched service is consistent with Amazon’s continued focus on its healthcare portfolio, which over the past few years has included telehealth, prescription delivery, fitness trackers, and cancer research.
In 2018, Amazon acquired PillPack, an online pharmacy, which allowed the retail behemoth to launch a portal for pricing comparison and prescription fulfilment. Now, its Pharmacy strategy threatens CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., two pharmacy chains.
“We believe a lot of Americans, particularly those that suffer from a chronic illness, are going to benefit from just Amazon’s participation in pharmacy, the ability to get high-quality experience delivered to your door at low cost.”
John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy
