Amazon CEO Jassy sees ‘a lot of growth’ in pharmacy

It might come as no surprise that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy had an optimistic outlook on the online retail giant’s pharmacy business. 

While it was far from the biggest news of the day concerning Amazon’s earnings report, it’s notable that Jassy, when asked by a reporter about the company’s pharmacy business, said it continues to grow and resonate more with Amazon shoppers. 

Jassy made a point to note that Amazon shoppers prefer the ease and speed of online ordering compared to the brick-and-mortar locations run by the online retailer’s competition.

“If you walk into pharmacies in cities today, it's a pretty tough experience with how much is locked behind cabinets, where you have to press a button to get somebody come out and open the cabinets for you, and a lot of shoplifting going on in the store,” Jassy said. 

Amazon continues to expand its pharmacy business, most recently making its prescription drug service, RxPass, available to Medicare recipients who are also members of its Amazon Prime loyalty program. 

The RxPass program costs $5 a month and provides a wide assortment of common prescription medications at heavy discounts. The expanded service is relatively new itself, first launching at the beginning of 2023. 

Jassy said Amazon is also working to expand its same-day delivery of prescription medications to more U.S. cities. The rapid delivery is now available in some larger metro areas like Los Angeles and New York City, and Jassy said Amazon aims to add a dozen more by the end of the year. 

Related:Amazon reaches milestone on delivery speed

“So, we’re seeing a lot of growth there, and we’re very optimistic about it,” he said. 

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Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says shoppers prefer the speed and convenience of online ordering rather than going to the store when it comes to pharmaceutical needs. How long do you think it will take for Amazon to become the No. 1 pharmacy provider? Or will it never happen? Comment below or contact the SN staff at [email protected].