Amazon launches medical prescription vending machines

The future is here: You can get your prescription drugs at a vending machine now. An Amazon vending machine, specifically.

Amazon announced this week that it's putting vending kiosks at some One Medical clinics in the Los Angeles area, operated by Amazon Pharmacy.

The intention, according to Amazon, is to make the process a bit simpler — visit your doctor, have the prescription sent to Amazon Pharmacy, use your phone to check out in the Amazon app, and then pick up your prescription right in the doctor's office vending machine.

"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, the vice president of operations at Amazon Pharmacy, said in an Amazon blog post. "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."

The kiosks will stock a range of the most commonly prescribed medications, like antibiotics, inhalers and blood pressure treatments, according to CNBC News.

Amazon's FAQ states that the machies won't contain "controlled substances such as Adderall, medications requiring refrigeration such as Wegovy, needles, except for Epipens, and certain other medications."

"As clinicians, we see firsthand how delays in starting medication can impact treatment outcomes," Dr. Andrew Diamond, the chief medical officer at One Medical, said in the Amazon blog post. "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."

The kiosks will be available starting in Dec. 2025, and the company said it would expand to additional locations "soon after."

This isn't the first piece of medical tech from Amazon. In New York City, Amazon operates hand scanners that allow patients to check in for appointments by scanning their palm at select medical offices.