Amazon healthcare started back in 2019 when Amazon rolled out Amazon Care with the aim of offering patients health care services in real-time. Amazon Care is a hybrid healthcare service provision and delivery, that provides virtual and in-person medical care. 

It has grown for three decades now and seems to have mastered the art of surviving in the market. It has a global client base of over 200 million customers and is fond of acquiring startups for expansion. 

Amazon Care director Kristen Helton speaks about the growth in demand for healthcare services. She discusses how patients are losing interest in health care systems that do not prioritize them. Helton claims that the gap forms the basis of Amazon Care’s patient-centric approach. 

Amazon Care is set to brace for an advanced healthcare system disruption. Amazon believes in its past ability to disrupt retail and other sectors and is therefore determined to venture further into healthcare. For instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has always contributed a lot to reputable and large healthcare facilities. The facilities include Moderna, Philips, and Rush Medicine, among others. 

Amazon has also innovated smart healthcare products. Amazon developed the Halo Band an instinctual wearable for tracking a person’s health metrics. It’s an added resource to personal fitness and healthcare. Halo Band conducts sleep analysis, exercise tracking, body composition, and nutrition on the wearer. 

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and amazon healthcare

Another notable contribution from Amazon healthcare is AWS’s healthcare accelerator launch. It’s an incredible contribution to the future of the healthcare sector.

The initiative aims at exploring and making an immense contribution to innovative startups. It targets startups that hit the Quadruple target of advanced patient care, critical clinician care, improved health results, and reduced cost of health care. AWS works with public sectors to fasten digital transformation. That way, it’s achievable to find conforming and informed health solutions. 

Acquiring One Medical to Add to Amazon Healthcare Ventures

Amazon is set to buy One Medical for $3.9 billion, a significant healthcare expansion that it has announced recently. Amazon will, therefore, get a physical connection with One Medical’s offices and healthcare providers. It’ll also have access to One Medical’s virtual healthcare technology. This is a lucrative addition to Amazon Care and its online pharmacy. 

How One Medical Acquisition will affect Amazon Healthcare Services

One Medical is membership based and has offices built near places of work. Members have access to an app where they book appointments and monitor their health records. It has a total of 188 offices, and its headquarter is in San Francisco. Total membership is 767,000, and patients pay a subscription fee of $199 annually. 

When Amazon injects its $18 per share, it equals to 77% premium for One Medical’s parent company, Life Healthcare. 

The deal will see Amazon required to let the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department learn of the merger. The body will counter-check the agreement for review of antitrust matters.

Final Thoughts

Amazon has ventured into the healthcare sector for some time now. Starting Amazon Care has been its gateway to helping many patients access more accessible healthcare options. It played a crucial role in COVID-19 testing and treatment, sexual health education, and vaccinations among others.

The acquisition and dealings that followed revolved around healthcare. Amazon’s healthcare focus has faced criticism and concern from privacy advocates and regulators.  However, the tech giant continues to rise taking over retail, e-commerce, and healthcare provision and delivery.