RPT Amazon launches virtual health clinic in US for common ailments

Nov 15 (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc ( AMZN.O ) on Tuesday launched Amazon Clinic, a virtual platform where users can connect with healthcare professionals to help treat common ailments such as allergies and skin conditions.

Amazon has for years sought to expand its presence in healthcare, where it is a small player. It acquired online pharmacy PillPack in 201[ads1]8, underpinning a prescription-delivery and price-comparison site it later launched as Amazon Pharmacy, which allows users to buy prescription drugs.

Amazon said the new service will operate in 32 states, where customers seeking treatment will be connected to healthcare providers. The service does not include health insurance and prices will vary depending on providers, it added.

The online store first tested virtual care visits for its own employees in Seattle in 2019 before offering services to other employers under the Amazon Care brand, which it now plans to shut down by the end of this year. read more

The company is also waiting to close its $3.49 billion deal to buy One Medical as it seeks to expand its virtual health service and add brick-and-mortar doctors’ offices for the first time. read more

Shares of Amazon rose about 1% in pre-bell trading.

Reporting by Bharat Govind Gautam, Eva Mathews and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Dhanya Ann Thoppil

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