Amazon announced a sweeping expansion of its Amazon Pharmacy same-day prescription delivery service, extending coverage to nearly 4,500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. The move adds roughly 2,000 new communities, including statewide coverage in Idaho and Massachusetts, staking a larger claim in a sector historically dominated by brick-and-mortar pharmacy chains.
This aggressive rollout comes as pharmacy closures, workforce shortages, and transportation challenges have limited access to medications in many rural and underserved areas. Amazon positions faster delivery and subscription pricing as competitive advantages, but the strategy could accelerate the decline of local pharmacies that serve as community health hubs.
Amazon Pharmacy began its push into the healthcare market in 2018 with the acquisition of PillPack and has since expanded services nationwide by leveraging the company’s vast logistics network. The expansion effort builds on improvements in delivery speeds seen in 2025, which Amazon says have enabled quicker access to prescriptions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The company stated that the goal of the expansion is to remove “critical barriers” that delay patients from starting treatment by delivering medications directly to their doors, often within hours of ordering. This model uses a variety of delivery methods tailored to specific communities, from e-bikes in dense urban areas to other transport modes in remote regions.
Amazon’s broader healthcare strategy also includes integrating pharmacy services with its One Medical primary care network, which the company acquired in 2023. In select locations, patients can pick up medications at electronic kiosks in clinic lobbies immediately after seeing a provider — a seamless experience that challenges traditional pharmacy visit models.
Critics of Amazon’s expansion say the company’s scale and pricing power could undercut community pharmacies that serve as trusted local care providers. Traditional drugstores often offer walk-in consultations, familiar faces, and established relationships with patients — elements that large tech-driven delivery services cannot easily replicate. However, proponents argue that faster delivery can help patients start crucial treatments sooner, particularly in areas with limited pharmacy access.
Amazon Pharmacy also promotes cost savings through subscription and discount programs. For example, RxPass — a monthly subscription service — and Prime Rx discounts aim to make common medications more affordable. These pricing programs are central to Amazon’s pitch as health costs rise across the country.
As the healthcare delivery landscape evolves, this expansion highlights a growing intersection of e-commerce and medical services. The push for convenience and speed may benefit many Americans, but the impact on traditional pharmacies and community-based healthcare infrastructure remains a key point of debate.
