This week retail giant Amazon has further established themselves in the world of digital health through the launch of Amazon Clinic in the U.S. This is a virtual health service which aims to deliver affordable and efficient care for a variety of common conditions such as allergies, acne, dandruff, hair loss, etc. Customers and clinicians can connect through a secure message-based consultation, which enables clinicians to send a personalized treatment plan and also allows patients to ask any follow up questions they may have.
Why it’s Notable:
Amazon Clinic will cater to 20 common conditions across 32 US states. It allows patients to select their condition from the provided list, and then choose their preferred provider from a list of third-party clinicians, such as SteadyMD and HealthTap. The personalized treatment plan is then delivered through the Amazon Clinic, including prescriptions which patients can fill at their own pharmacy or alternatively, at Amazon Pharmacy.
One of the primary aims of Amazon Clinic is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. In the US, without health insurance, an in-person appointment with a HCP typically costs between $150 to $450. However, with this portal, patients can choose their online clinic by comparing prices, response times, and services offered. After treatment plans have been received patients can message their clinician through the portal for up to 14 days, with follow-up questions at no additional cost.
Industry Implications:
Amazon’s focus has been to invest across the healthcare journey and engage stakeholders from every facet of this. In parallel to Amazon Clinic this week, they also announced the launch of Amazon HealthLake Imaging and Amazon HealthLake Analytics which aim to analyze images and obtain insights from data respectively. These efforts, combined with others, such as the pending acquisition of One Medical, Amazon Pill Pack, and Amazon Care lay a solid foundation for Amazon’s healthcare portfolio. Especially when compared with efforts of competitors, such as CVS and Walgreens who have the same goal of becoming a key player in the industry.
There has been a shift in the healthcare landscape wherein new models of care, focused on the unification and integration of stakeholders is on the rise. If Amazon can successfully launch Amazon Clinic to provide cost efficient and accessible care, they have the potential to pose a serious threat to brick and mortar clinics and pharmacies. Big tech players could be the catalyst to make the unification of the healthcare ecosystem a reality, with less of a focus on using technology to disrupt healthcare, but more so as a tool to support a more unified solution.