Prescription Medication Delivered by Drones: Amazon Takes to the Skies
Amazon Explores Drone Delivery of Prescriptions Right to Your Doorstep
Amazon testing drones for prescription delivery to your door
By Cara Murez
THURSDAY, Oct. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Soon, you may be able to step out on your front porch and wait for your prescription medication to drop from the sky. Yes, you read that right!
On Wednesday, Amazon Pharmacy announced that it is stepping into the world of speedy prescription drug delivery by testing drones in selected locations. Cue the futuristic music!
“We’re taught from the first days of medical school that there is a golden window that matters in clinical medicine,” Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy, exclaimed with enthusiasm. “That’s the time between when a patient feels unwell and when they’re able to get treatment. We’re working hard at Amazon to dramatically narrow the golden window from diagnosis to treatment, and drone delivery marks a significant step forward. Whether it’s an infectious disease or respiratory illness, early intervention can be critical to improving patient outcomes.”
You might be wondering how exactly this drone delivery will work. Well, let me break it down for you. Although Amazon already delivers some prescriptions in two days via Amazon Prime, the drone method of delivery happens within an hour. That’s right, within an hour! Talk about speedy service!
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“Our drones fly over traffic, eliminating the excess time a customer’s package might spend in transit on the road,” explained Calsee Hendrickson, director of product and program management at Prime Air. “That’s the beauty of drone delivery, and medications were the first thing our customers said they also want delivered quickly via drone. Speed and convenience top the wish list for health purchases.”
The lucky customers in College Station, Texas are the first to try out this amazing service. They must feel like pioneers of the pharmaceutical world!
But here’s where the real magic happens: the drones are programmed to fly from a secure pharmacy at a delivery center and then descend down to 13 feet at the customer’s address, dropping the padded package like a modern-day stork. It’s like receiving a special delivery straight from the heavens above!
Now, you might be worried about the safety aspect. No need to fret! These drones will soar as high as 400 feet but also have a built-in safety feature. They can check that the area is clear of children and pets before gracefully dropping the package. Safety first, after all!
But let’s not forget about the most important part: the medications! More than 500 medications will be available for drone delivery, including treatments for the flu and pneumonia. Amazon is truly taking healthcare to new heights!
And the excitement doesn’t stop there. Amazon plans to expand its drone delivery system to a third location in the U.S., as well as cities in Italy and the United Kingdom by the end of 2024. It’s a global drone revolution!
To make things even better, Amazon is also working on a new and improved drone called the MK30. This little wonder is smaller, quieter, and has an extended flight range. Who knew drones could be so high-tech?
It’s worth mentioning that Amazon has been making big moves in the healthcare world. They recently spent nearly $4 billion to acquire One Medical, a primary care provider. And in August, they added telemedicine visits in all 50 states. It seems like Amazon’s healthcare empire is sky-rocketing!
But Amazon isn’t the only company taking to the skies. CVS Health and Intermountain Health have also shown an interest in drone delivery. CVS collaborated with UPS to test deliveries in 2019, while Intermountain Health has been using drones to drop prescriptions via parachute in the Salt Lake City area since 2021. It looks like the sky is the limit when it comes to delivering medication!
More Information
If you’re curious to learn more about prescription drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has got you covered. Check out this link for all the details.
Are you excited about the prospect of receiving your medication via drone? Would you feel like you’re living in a sci-fi movie or do you prefer the traditional method of picking up your prescriptions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: Associated Press
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