Nearly half of the US will have access to Amazon's same-day prescription delivery service by 2025.

• Amazon intends to expand its same-day prescription delivery service to 20 more U.S. cities in the upcoming year.
• Amazon Pharmacy, an online drug store launched in 2020, offers prescriptions.
• Amazon is working to quicken the delivery of medication as it aims to intensify its healthcare expansion.

The company announced plans to expand its same-day prescription delivery service to 20 more cities next year, continuing its expansion into the healthcare industry.

Amazon announced its plans to embed pharmacies in same-day delivery facilities around major metro areas, making speedy medicine delivery available in nearly half of the U.S. The company made this announcement during a press event at one of its warehouses near Nashville, Tennessee.

In March, Amazon launched same-day pharmacy delivery in New York and Los Angeles, following its introduction of the service in several other cities. The company plans to expand the service to include Boston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and San Diego in 2025.

The company has been testing prescription delivery by drone in one Texas city and claims that in most cases, when shoppers order same-day delivery of their medication by 4 p.m., they can receive it at home by 10 p.m.

Amazon Pharmacy, a part of its website and app, enables customers to purchase medication with free delivery for Prime members. Launched in 2020, Amazon Pharmacy resulted from the company's 2018 acquisition of online pharmacy PillPack. The company recently announced that it has doubled the number of customers it serves in the past year, although it did not specify the exact number.

Amazon is capitalizing on the care gaps created by the growing number of "pharmacy deserts" in the U.S., which can limit a patient's access to medications and pharmacist care. The company is facing competition from traditional pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS, as well as other large retailers that offer pharmacy services, such as Walmart.

Amazon's online pharmacy is part of the company's multiyear initiative to gain a foothold in the healthcare industry. In July 2022, the company acquired primary care provider One Medical for approximately $3.9 billion. Additionally, Amazon launched and subsequently shuttered its telehealth service, Amazon Care, as well as a line of health and wellness devices.

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