TOKYOJul 24 (News On Japan) – Amazon has launched a new service in Japan, Amazon Pharmacy, which delivers prescription drugs to customers’ homes.
The service will start on July 23 and will work with major pharmacy chains such as AIN Group, Welcia, Qol Pharmacy and Tomod’s. Users will need to register via a special app.
Patients must first obtain an electronic prescription through an in-person or online consultation. They then register this prescription on Amazon’s app and choose a pharmacy. Pharmacists provide online instructions on how to take the medication, and the medication is delivered to the patient’s home by couriers who work with the pharmacy. Delivery costs range from free to around 600 yen, and unattended delivery is not an option.
While the service has received positive feedback for its convenience, there are concerns about the impact on local pharmacies and the potential reduction of pharmacy jobs. The Japan Medical Association and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications report low current adoption rates for electronic prescriptions and online consultations, but expect future growth. Small and medium-sized hospitals and pharmacies may have difficulty adopting these systems, potentially leading to their closure.
In the US, where Amazon Pharmacy has been operating since November 2020, there have been issues with large pharmacy chains closing stores and problems with counterfeit e-prescriptions and illegal drug sales. The new service poses a challenge in balancing convenience and productivity with maintaining existing businesses.
Source: TBS
