Amazon said on Tuesday that its virtual Amazon clinic is now accessible in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Amazon Clinic, the health care arm of the e-commerce giant Amazon, is making a significant expansion with its nationwide rollout. This move is set to increase the company’s presence in the health care industry and further solidify its position as a major player.
With the rollout, Amazon Clinic aims to provide accessible and convenient health care services to customers across the country. The clinic will offer a range of medical services, including primary care, preventative care, and telehealth consultations. By leveraging its vast network and technological capabilities, Amazon aims to revolutionize the way people access and receive healthcare.
Launched in November of last year, Amazon Clinic gives clients 24/7 access to outside healthcare professionals via the company’s website and mobile application. Customers of Amazon can use the service to access telehealth care for a variety of common ailments, including pink eye, UTIs, and hair loss.
The business announced on Tuesday that Amazon Clinic now enables video visits across the country in addition to message-based consultations, which are currently accessible in 34 states. Currently, Amazon Clinic does not accept insurance; however, insurance may pay the cost of any prescription that a clinician prescribes.
The chief medical officer and general manager at Amazon Clinic, Dr. NworahAyogu, stated in a blog post on Tuesday, “At Amazon, we want to make it dramatically easier for people to get and stay healthy, and we’re doing that by helping customers get the care and medications they need in the way that is most convenient for them.”
Customers will be able to view the price before they begin the visit thanks to the virtual service, according to the Ayogu.
Amazon’s entry into the healthcare industry follows similar initiatives by other retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. A further threat to the service will come from the urgent-care centres that are springing up all over the nation as a result of the rising expense of healthcare and the difficulty in scheduling routine doctor visits.
Though the market growth has started to slow down, the pandemic gave rise to a significant number of telehealth firms.
Amazon has gradually increased its presence in the healthcare industry in recent years. The business opened its own online pharmacy, Amazon Pharmacy, in 2020. Amazon also completed the $3.9 billion acquisition of healthcare firm One Medical earlier this year. Additionally, Amazon has teamed up with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway in order to offer workers and families at the three companies—as well as perhaps other companies—better health care services and insurance at a reduced cost. But it never got off the ground, and it was finally abandoned in 2021.
The company’s most recent expansion of Amazon Clinic comes as it widens its influence into every aspect of its clients’ life. The business now manages supermarkets, makes films.
