Amazon May Be Entering the Multibillion-Dollar Prescription Drug Market

Megalith

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Amazon will decide before Thanksgiving whether to move into selling prescription drugs online, according to an email from Amazon viewed by CNBC and a source familiar with the situation. If it decides to make that move, it will start expanding its senior team with drug supply chain experts.

Amazon typically spends years researching opportunities before it telegraphs its intentions. The opportunity to sell drugs online is alluring given its market size -- analysts have estimated the US prescription drug market at $560 billion per year. Amazon is well aware of the complexities, say sources familiar with the company's thinking. In the past year, Amazon has ramped up its hiring and consulted with dozens of people about a potential move into the pharmacy market.
 
This is actually a brilliant idea. HIPAA concerns aside. If amazon is able to utilize a marketplace for medications we could theoretically pick and choose the cheaper option. I would however be concerned over quality and storage conditions.
 
I would however be concerned over quality and storage conditions.
With the mistakes the warehouse monkies make you might get oxicontin instead of your Glucophage.
Looking forward to the comically oversize box they ship my Acyclovir in.

Whole Foods Pharmacy?
 
With the mistakes the warehouse monkies make you might get oxicontin instead of your Glucophage.
Looking forward to the comically oversize box they ship my Acyclovir in.

Whole Foods Pharmacy?

Shenanigans are already ripe on amazon with benign items... This should be interesting.

Getting your, I mean, someone elses dildo shipped to your door is funny, but the wrong medicine could kill you. You really think this isn't something they'd consider?
 
Getting your, I mean, someone elses dildo shipped to your door is funny, but the wrong medicine could kill you. You really think this isn't something they'd consider?

I'm betting that they absorb somebody like express scripts, and ramp it up a bit. This also negates the marketplace concept as it's still one entity responsible for scripts.
 
They were rumored to be buying Patterson Inc for years.

They just spun off their medical division and sold it off.

They are still rumored to be moving onto buying Patterson Dental. Amazon wants to get into these markets.
 
Prime shipping on my prescription drugs sounds quite nice.

Well I mean, my insurance would probably make me pay the same amount to get the prescription at my local pharmacy and they'll have it to me in 30 minutes and not two days.
 
Getting your, I mean, someone elses dildo shipped to your door is funny, but the wrong medicine could kill you. You really think this isn't something they'd consider?

I was referring to the scamming and system gaming that already occurs on amazon. Pharma already seems to have that baggage.

I've actually never had a shipping problem with amazon
 
My company gets too big a kickback at my expense now, they'll never be listed as a valid pharmacy.
Getting your, I mean, someone elses dildo shipped to your door is funny, but the wrong medicine could kill you. You really think this isn't something they'd consider?
Because a local pharmacist never fills the script wrong, ever.
 
My company gets too big a kickback at my expense now, they'll never be listed as a valid pharmacy.

Because a local pharmacist never fills the script wrong, ever.

Missing the point.
 
Unless they require signatures and are willing to deliver on my schedule, some things don't work in their version of utopia. Theft, bad weather, animals that eat mail, human error (wrong address), etc.

I don't take any prescriptions, luckily, but I wouldn't want my sensitive pills baking in the 110+ heat of my mailbox for hours. I am prone to neglect my mailbox too.
 
you guys are aware you can get meds in the mail now correct? This isn't new. Same rules / laws would apply to them, only certain meds could be shipped (meaning no narcotics) might screw up your blood pressure meds and viagra but that's about it.
 
Americans are already over medicated as it is. I work at 2 hospitals, I know.
 
$560 billion, any other first world nation, the probable cost is less than $56 billion.
 
Anything to bring competition is good. Especially in our rip off health care industry.

I agree. I also wonder if I'll be able to circumvent local prices and get the cheaper ones from Canada/U.K. Much like I already do for region specific movie releases.
 
So theoretically, you make a request with script (maybe its yours) they look it over (maybe check forninteractions and recommendations) fill it (possibly with correct contents) mail you instructions (for the correct pills?) Evaluate your address for proper storage (temps and access to street) then if necessary take them to an amazon locker site (no proof when picking up).


Seems like a LOT of issues to work out.
Hope they have insurance coverage for this.
 
This is a shockingly bad idea:

"Amazon Prescription service mistakenly fills child's antibiotic prescription with narcotics"
"Drug Ring busted in Amazon Prescription distribution center after discrepancies discovered"

Pharmacies might be a relic of the past, but they're at least a 'gatekeeper.'
 
I agree. I also wonder if I'll be able to circumvent local prices and get the cheaper ones from Canada/U.K. Much like I already do for region specific movie releases.

what people like you don't understand is that meds are cheaper there because part of their taxes go to pay for this. So you getting meds from those places are screwing over the tax payers there.

So theoretically, you make a request with script (maybe its yours) they look it over (maybe check forninteractions and recommendations) fill it (possibly with correct contents) mail you instructions (for the correct pills?) Evaluate your address for proper storage (temps and access to street) then if necessary take them to an amazon locker site (no proof when picking up).


Seems like a LOT of issues to work out.
Hope they have insurance coverage for this.

It is thr same as all the current places
 
what people like you don't understand is that meds are cheaper there because part of their taxes go to pay for this. So you getting meds from those places are screwing over the tax payers there.

Your right, I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up!
 
Most pharmacies already have mail and delivery services. I used to get some of my meds by mail, but for pain meds you have to get them in person. I'm all for this. I pay way too much for my meds.
 
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