In an exciting leap towards the future, e-commerce platform Amazon is set to experiment with drone deliveries of prescription medications. Residents of College Station, Texas, have become the pioneers of this innovative service, as they can now place an order and have it delivered by a drone within 60 minutes.
The unmanned aerial vehicle, originating from a delivery center equipped with a secure pharmacy, will embark on a journey to the customer’s residence. It will adjust its altitude to approximately four meters or 13 feet, then release a cushioned package to its designated recipient.
Amazon has ensured a comprehensive catalog of over 500 varied medications available for delivery, covering common treatments for illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu. However, controlled substances have been excluded from the list.
The company’s Prime Air initiative had previously commenced testing drone deliveries of everyday household goods in College Station and Lockeford, California last December. According to Amazon spokesperson Jessica Bardoulas, the service has executed thousands of deliveries since its inception, with the addition of prescription delivery emerging from customer feedback.
Amazon Prime already provides a delivery service for medications available in the company’s pharmacy within a two-day timeframe. However, as stated by pharmacy vice-president John Love, this service isn’t efficient for those suffering from acute illnesses. He emphasised that the goal is to “bend the curve on speed.”
Backing this, Amazon Pharmacy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vin Gupta highlighted that the U.S. healthcare system consistently grapples with promptly diagnosing and providing treatment for acute illnesses – a reality especially evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He advocates that a quicker treatment delivery can significantly improve their efficacy.
While Amazon is at the frontiers of prescription drone deliveries, it isn’t alone. Drugstore chain CVS Health had previously collaborated with UPS for a similar testing program in North Carolina in 2019, which has since concluded. Additionally, Intermountain Health initiated drone delivery services in the Salt Lake City area in 2021, and has been expanding the service in cooperation with logistics firm Zipline.
Companies pioneering in commercial drone usage have faced numerous challenges, especially from regulators prioritising safety measures. In fact, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had anticipated drone-operated deliveries as early as 2018. Presently, however, the company only operates this technology in two markets.
Amazon’s drone will ascend to a height of nearly 400 feet, gradually descending upon nearing the customer’s premises. Prior to package drop-off, the drone will ascertain that there are no obstructions, with a specific scanner for pets and children.
While Amazon plans to extend this service to other markets, it has yet to provide a concrete timeline for expansion. Over the past few years, the company has been expanding its presence in healthcare, integrating a pharmacy, purchasing primary care provider One Medical for nearly $4 billion, and adding video telemedicine visits across all 50 states.
