Uber Hits Another Milestone In Healthcare, Launching Same-Day Prescription Delivery

Earlier this week, Uber Health announced yet another milestone in its mission to improve healthcare access: same day prescription delivery.

The press release describes: “For the first time, those using Uber Health—including healthcare providers and health plans—will be able to manage prescription delivery from any pharmacy in their service area through the same platform they already use to coordinate transportation for patients. This launch enables providers to offer a full suite of care solutions that extend beyond the four walls of a clinic and is designed to improve patient experiences and health outcomes.”

This is a significant step forward for Uber Health, as well as for millions of people that don’t otherwise have regular access to healthcare. Notably, home delivery for medications is a huge convenience factor for many— especially for elderly populations that have challenges with mobility or with driving,

Moreover, there is an added benefit beyond simple convenience: adherence to medications. A study by Express Scripts indicated that patients are more likely to actually take their medications regularly when they are delivered to their home. The study indicated “that Medicare Part D patients taking medications for the comorbid conditions of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol who used a home delivery pharmacy had a 59% greater likelihood of being adherent across each therapy class for medications in home delivery compared to retail.” This illustrates the true value that consumers find in home delivery.

Caitlin Donovan, Global Head of Uber Health, explains: “At Uber Health, we are building solutions that address lessons we’ve learned from years at healthcare companies operating in value-based care contracts. Too much time has been spent ensuring patients had a ride to their follow-up appointment, had picked up the right prescriptions, or had access to food […] That’s why I’m proud to add a scalable prescription delivery solution to our platform that empowers care teams to fully close the loop. From prescription delivery and NEMT [non-emergency medical transportation] today to healthy food and grocery delivery in the coming months, Uber Health remains committed to delivering a more connected care journey through a single, seamless platform.”

The delivery initiative is powered by a partnership with ScriptDrop, a healthcare technology company that connects pharmacies and delivery partners.

On a larger scale, Uber has worked hard to progress in healthcare. Most importantly, the company prides itself in helping “improve patient care by enabling healthcare organizations to arrange rides and services on behalf of others by using a centralized, easy-to-use dashboard or an API.” Similar to prescription delivery, for many, getting to a doctor’s appointment or a hospital is very challenging. In this regard, Uber provides a much needed service, enabling ways that patients can become better connected with healthcare facilities.

The company is well poised to provide this service: according to the latest financial results published by Uber last month, gross bookings grew 19% year-over-year to $30.7 billion, and delivery gross bookings grew to $14.3 billion. These numbers indicate the sheer size and power of the Uber network, and the incredible infrastructure that the company has built globally.

With its expansive resources and network, Uber Health has a massive opportunity to create significant impact, and may provide easier access to healthcare for millions of people. Now, with same day prescription delivery, the company is one step closer to achieving succeeding in its quest to improve last-mile healthcare delivery.