The news: Amazon Pharmacy kiosks offering prescription pickup will soon be available at select One Medical locations in the Los Angeles area.

Here’s how it works: Patients of Amazon-owned One Medical will have the option to pick up certain prescription medications at an in-clinic kiosk right after their appointment.

• Patients with an Amazon account can ask their doctor to send prescriptions directly to Amazon Pharmacy.
• Patients receive a QR code to scan at the kiosk, pay, and pick up the medication.
• An Amazon pharmacist prepares the prescription for kiosk pickup within minutes. A pharmacist is also available for consultation if needed.

Notably, controlled substances or medications that require refrigeration (such as weight loss shots) won’t be available at kiosks, per The Verge. What’s stocked will depend on the prescribing patterns of each One Medical office.

Why it matters: Amazon Pharmacy was previously online-only. Adding in-person Rx pickup, albeit via a vending machine, aims at traditional drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens. Long lines at pharmacy counters due to understaffing and cost-cutting have made customer experiences worse across big chains and independent pharmacies alike.

• Faster service ranked as the top improvement consumers want to see from pharmacies, according to EMARKETER’s December 2024 Digital Health survey.

Our take: Amazon Pharmacy’s kiosk model aids convenience, but it’s unlikely to shift the pharmacy market—at least for now. Consumers frustrated by long waits at the pharmacy counter might prefer an online pharmacy that delivers straight to their home within a day rather than having their medication dispensed from a machine. Online pharmacy use is increasing, particularly among younger consumers—60% of people ages 18 to 34 used a digital pharmacy service in the past year, per a May 2025 survey from M3 MI.

Still, brick-and-mortar pharmacies must recognize that Amazon’s competitive edge lies in its customer-centric approach and superior online convenience. Incumbent pharmacies must provide more virtual support from pharmacists and improve medication management capabilities on their apps and websites. Drugstores should also add services like online ordering with separate pickup for customers who want pharmacist access without long waits.