Left field disruption: Amazon Australia files trademark for ‘Amazon Pharmacy’

The application suggests the local arm of the retail giant is looking to enter Australia’s pharmaceuticals market – and helping older people to stay in their homes for longer. Amazon already offers a similar service in the US (pictured), which it launched last year through a $1.35 billion acquisition of online pharmacy startup PillPack. PillPack provides pre-sorted medication packages containing individual daily doses – mainly aimed at people who take multiple medications – and coordinates with doctors and insurers to manage prescriptions, with licensed pharmacists overseeing the process. Would it work here? In Australia, most Australians live within 2.5km of a local pharmacy where they can access subsidised medicines immediately without waiting for an overseas delivery. But there is an ageing population looking to stay in the family home – potentially more pressure for retirement living operators. The trademark covers various medical apparatuses, medication dispensers, online pharmacy retailing and the distribution of prescription medication, plus a “pharmacy packaging service that aligns, sorts and packages a patient’s medications by date and time into individual packets”.