- In 2022, the closure of the Amazon Clinic was announced, a program focused on providing general medical consultations through the Internet.
- In parallel, Jeff Bezos’s company acquired the health group One Medical in a transaction that had an estimated value of 3.490 million dollars.
- As part of Amazon’s massive layoffs, during the first half of 2023 alone, an estimated 18,000 people lost their jobs.
Over the past few months, the world’s big technology companies have suffered huge economic losses. Much of the blame is due to the crisis that began with the health emergency and has spread to other areas. In fact, such a giant Amazon has had to resort to mass layoffs to reduce its costs.
In the first instance, the company founded by Jeff Bezos leads internet sales worldwide. There is no competitor that can achieve similar figures, although over the years it has also shown interest in other fields with the intention of expanding its business.
As a result of the above, Amazon now has an area healthcare that focuses entirely on technology-based health and medical care. It ranges from remote consultations to the development of applications and devices.
On the other hand, it is a favorable aspect that a company of this magnitude has shown interest in the field of health. Although on some occasions it has achieved satisfactory results, it has also had several setbacks that have a direct impact on profits.
Amazon continues with mass layoffs
To reduce your costs Amazon has had to lay off thousands of employees. Only during this 2023 it is estimated that 18 thousand people have lost their jobs. While according to Beckers Hospital Reviewwithin the list of the healthcare area are the following:
- Amazon Pharmacy: On July 14, it announced the layoff of 80 employees and among those affected were pharmacy technicians and team leaders, although most of the registered pharmacists were unharmed.
- Halo: In this case, all those who lost their jobs were workers who participated in the digital health tool included in the Halo platform.
- AmazonCare: Since August 2022, Amazon said that it would end its general and virtual health care service called Amazon Care. With this, the direct consequence was the dismissal of 159 employees.
- Care Medical: Employees at Care Medical, an independent company contracted to work with Amazon Care patients, were also laid off due to the service shutdown. It is estimated that at least 236 people lost their jobs.
Other Amazon businesses in the field of health
On the other hand, it is necessary to remember that at the beginning of this 2023 Amazon completed the acquisition of One Medical. It is a popular chain of medical offices that has 214 locations in the United States. It offers different types of services to patients and even already has the option of remote care.
Before Amazon, the owner of One Medical was 1Life Healthcare. Although now that has changed thanks to the payment of 3.9 billion dollars, which was the total cost of the transaction.
The purchase was made official through a newsletter and Amazon also offered information about its future plans. First of all, for a limited time, it enabled a special membership for new members that has an annual price of $144 (28% discount), which is equivalent to only 12 per month.
For its part, the service One Medical now owned by Amazon ensures primary healthcare where, when and how patients prefer it.
Also read:
Official: Amazon buys One Medical in exchange for this millionaire figure
Amazon Clinic, this is how Jeff Bezos’ new telemedicine service would work
Amazon Care does not convince: The health service will close at the end of 2022