Amazon India Expands Healthcare Play With At-Home Diagnostics

Expanding into the healthcare segment, Amazon India has launched Amazon Diagnostics, an at-home healthcare service that allows customers to book lab tests, schedule appointments and receive digital reports directly via the app.

Initially available in six cities – Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai and Hyderabad – the service covers more than 450 pin codes and offers access to over 800 diagnostic tests. 

Customers can request doorstep sample collection within 60 minutes and receive digital reports for routine tests in as little as six hours, Amazon said in a statement.

The company further said that this expansion strengthens the foundation of Amazon Medical by building on the existing service of pharmacy and clinic.

The ecommerce major has partnered with Orange Health Labs to launch this new service.

Notably, the Andy Jassy-led company via its Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund led the $12 Mn investment in Orange Health, in December last year. Back then, the Bengaluru-based healthtech company was looking to grow its team, expand product portfolio and drive further innovation in diagnostics.

“Amazon Diagnostics represents a significant step forward in making healthcare more accessible, reliable and convenient for all our customers,” said Jayaramakrishnan Balasubramanian, category leader at Amazon Medical.

“By providing high-quality, doctor-verified lab testing seamlessly integrated into the Amazon app, we are empowering our customers with world class diagnostic facilities from the comfort of their home,” Balasubramanian added.

The development comes at a time when there is a rising demand for quick medical services, and healthtech players are keen in exploring how quick services such as medical consultation, tests, sample collection, medicine delivery, among various others, can be offered at shorter timelines. 

Amazon confirmed that, with this launch, its customers would have the access to complete end-to-end healthcare services, which comprises tele-consultation, delivery of medicines, and accredited testing, under Amazon Medical.

It is pertinent to note that Amazon has been taking various initiatives to deepen its hold in the Indian market. Only a week ago, Amazon India announced its plans to invest INR 2,000 Cr (around $230 Mn) to ramp up its logistics and operations network.

Prior to that, the ecommerce giant also infused INR 350 Cr into its digital payments arm Amazon Pay India in April, with a focus on scaling its presence in the country’s UPI market.

Meanwhile, Amazon expanded its grocery service Amazon Fresh to more than 170 cities and towns, entering tier- II and III markets to pace up with the intensifying instant delivery race in India.