Amazon Pharmacy is launching vending machines for prescription drugs

Amazon Pharmacy is introducing prescription vending machines at its One Medical clinics, starting in Los Angeles in December 2025, with plans for broader expansion. These in-office kiosks allow patients to pick up commonly prescribed medications—such as antibiotics, inhalers, and blood pressure drugs—immediately after their appointments. Patients can have prescriptions sent directly to the kiosk, pay via the Amazon app, and typically receive their medications within minutes. The kiosks’ inventories are tailored to the prescribing habits of each clinic location, though controlled substances and refrigerated medications are excluded. The Amazon app also provides transparency on medication costs, including discounts and insurance copays, and offers access to licensed pharmacists through video or phone consultations. Amazon aims to address the issue of unfilled prescriptions caused by patients needing to make separate pharmacy trips. This initiative comes amid significant challenges faced by traditional U.S. pharmacy chains, with Rite Aid closing all stores recently, and CVS and Walgreens shuttering hundreds over the past few years. Amazon’s vending machines represent