Amazon to Launch Pharmacy Kiosks in Medical Clinics in Los Angeles

The pilot program allows patients to immediately fill prescriptions and avoid making an additional trip to a pharmacy.

Amazon Pharmacy on Oct. 8 announced the rollout of a pilot program to put pharmaceutical-dispensing kiosks at select One Medical offices in Los Angeles.Amazon/Handout via Reuters

In an effort to get medications into the hands of patients immediately following doctors’ appointments, Amazon Pharmacy on Oct. 8 announced the rollout of a pilot program to put pharmaceutical-dispensing kiosks at select One Medical offices in Los Angeles.

The in-office kiosks allow patients to immediately fill prescriptions and avoid making an additional trip to a pharmacy, the online retailer said. Eliminating that step provides patients with an instant transition between their medical visits and access to medications, Amazon Pharmacy stated.

“We know that when patients have to make an extra trip to the pharmacy after seeing their doctor, many prescriptions never get filled,” Hannah McClellan, vice president of operations at Amazon Pharmacy, said. “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.”

According to pharmaceutical wholesaler McKesson, one in four U.S. urban neighborhoods have limited access to pharmacy services. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of consumers began using digital pharmacies for mail-order prescription services, leading to approximately 14-percent year-over-year annual growth, the National Institute of Health (NIH) said. The digital pharmacy market is expected to reach $35.3 billion in volume by 2026, according to the NIH.

Amazon Pharmacy launched in 2020, and entrepreneur Mark Cuban launched Cost Plus Drugs in the same space in 2022. Despite the increasing market share of digital pharmacies, the majority of prescription medications are still filled at chains such as CVS and Walgreens.

Amazon Pharmacy in December will roll out the kiosk medication program at One Medical locations in downtown and west Los Angeles, as well as Beverly Hills, Long Beach, and West Hollywood, with additional Southern California locations expected to come online as well. One Medical has 10 office locations in Los Angeles County and five in Orange County.

The kiosks will contain many common prescription drugs, such as antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and inhalers, Amazon Pharmacy stated. The kiosks won’t carry controlled substances or medications that need to be refrigerated, such as injectable Wegovy pens.

One Medical providers will inform patients if their prescription is available on-site, and patients will be asked to select the kiosk location for delivery, rather than their primary pharmacy. Once patients pay for their medications using the Amazon app, they’ll scan a QR code from their smartphones and the kiosk will dispense the prescription.

Andrew Diamond, chief medical officer at One Medical, said that delays in starting medications can impact treatment outcomes.

“The ability to know a patient is leaving our office with their medication in hand—especially for conditions requiring immediate treatment like infections—can make a meaningful difference in their care journey,” Diamond said.

Costs for using the kiosks are the same as traditional pharmacies, Amazon Pharmacy stated. Patients can also consult with a pharmacist through a video or phone call.

“We’ve designed the kiosk experience to be simple, fast, and patient-centered,” McClellan said. “But we also understand that patients sometimes have questions about their medications. Every kiosk transaction includes access to our team of pharmacists who can provide consultation just as they would at a traditional pharmacy counter.”