🚚 Nationwide Prescription Delivery
Walmart will roll out prescription delivery across the U.S. starting early 2025. This service aims to deliver medications in as little as 30 minutes, reaching over 86% of American households. The program is currently live in states like Arkansas, New York, and Nevada and will expand to 49 states by January. Walmart’s executive Tom Ward highlighted their goal: "We can deliver the necessary medicine along with everything else you need to feel better." Walmart will leverage its nearly 4,600 pharmacies to support the initiative.
💡 How It Works
The new service will cover both new prescriptions and refills. Deliveries will include tamper-proof packaging for safety. Customers of Walmart+ will receive these deliveries at no extra charge, while others pay a fee of $9.95 per delivery. However, refrigerated medicines and controlled substances are excluded. Walmart aims to simplify access to prescriptions, offering convenience and speed similar to Amazon’s plans for same-day service by 2025.
📉 Competitors and Market Challenges
Walmart’s push comes as competitors like Amazon, CVS, and Walgreens intensify their own delivery services. Amazon announced the opening of new pharmacy locations in 20 cities next year, with same-day delivery for nearly half of U.S. households. CVS and Walgreens have been offering same-day prescription deliveries as well. Yet, many independent and chain pharmacies are struggling. Walgreens recently announced plans to close 1,200 stores, citing low reimbursement rates as a key challenge.
🏥 Addressing Pharmacy Deserts
Walmart’s service could help address gaps in access to pharmacy care, as nearly half of U.S. counties have communities located over 10 miles from a pharmacy. According to a study published by the Journal of American Medical Association, the decline in independent pharmacies and closures by major chains like Rite Aid and CVS has contributed to these "pharmacy deserts." Walmart’s scale and infrastructure might provide a solution for some areas, but it will still face significant competition in the healthcare market.
Will Walmart reshape the U.S. pharmacy landscape?
