International

Amazon to acquire US primary care provider for £3.25bn

Amazon has announced its latest move into healthcare, through the acquisition of One Medical, a “technology-powered U.S. primary care organisation”.

The deal for £3.25bn ($3.9bn) will see Amazon acquire One Medical, a subscription-based service where people can have access to doctors through in-person, digital, and virtual care services, for a monthly fee. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and approval by One Medical’s shareholders and regulatory approval.

“We think health care is high on the list of experiences that need reinvention,” said Neil Lindsay, SVP of Amazon Health Services.

Neil added: “Booking an appointment, waiting weeks or even months to be seen, taking time off work, driving to a clinic, finding a parking spot, waiting in the waiting room then the exam room for what is too often a rushed few minutes with a doctor, then making another trip to a pharmacy – we see lots of opportunity to both improve the quality of the experience and give people back valuable time in their days.

“We want to be one of the companies that helps dramatically improve the healthcare experience over the next several years. Together with One Medical’s human-centred and technology-powered approach to health care, we believe we can and will help more people get better care, when and how they need it. We look forward to delivering on that long-term mission.”

On completion, Amir Dan Rubin will remain as CEO of One Medical.

Amir Dan Rubin, said: “The opportunity to transform health care and improve outcomes by combining One Medical’s human-centred and technology-powered model and exceptional team with Amazon’s customer obsession, history of invention, and willingness to invest in the long-term is so exciting.

“There is an immense opportunity to make the health care experience more accessible, affordable, and even enjoyable for patients, providers, and payers. We look forward to innovating and expanding access to quality healthcare services, together.”