In a notable shift from being solely a retail powerhouse, Amazon is gradually positioning itself as a significant player in the healthcare sector, leveraging its extensive logistics network and expanding medical presence to potentially enhance public health—starting with customers’ front doors.
As reported by Bloomberg, Amazon launched a pilot initiative in 2023 known as Project Pulse, which involved equipping delivery vans with defibrillators while training drivers in CPR. Over 100 drivers participated in this several-month program in cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Bologna, with some drivers responding to alerts from citizen responder apps to assist at emergency scenes, where rescue services were already in attendance.
Although the company has yet to progress further with this initiative, an Amazon spokesperson informed Bloomberg that the company is “evaluating feedback and exploring additional opportunities for future programs.”
This endeavor could serve as a significant public relations boost for Amazon while also marking a strategic move to expand its healthcare interests beyond its $3.9 billion investment in One Medical, a primary care provider acquired in early 2023.
With competitors like Walgreens and Walmart retreating from the primary care space—Walmart closed 51 locations of its healthcare business in April of last year, and Walgreens is undergoing privatization by Sycamore Partners for $10 billion—Amazon may be increasingly confident in its ability to succeed where others have faltered: transforming healthcare delivery and delivering more than just packages to consumers’ doorsteps.
