Elementary, My Dear Patient: PillPack Founders Prescribe a Dose of Disruption with General Medicine

The Game's Afoot... Again!

The scent of innovation is unmistakable Watson! It seems our old friends from PillPack Messrs. Parker and Cohen have resurfaced after their sojourn with the behemoth that is Amazon. Seven years it's been since they sold their online pharmacy a veritable age in the fast paced world of modern medicine. Now they're brewing a new concoction: General Medicine. Their ambition? To make healthcare as simple as clicking 'add to cart.' Elementary wouldn't you say?

A Shadowy Figure and Symptom Sleuthing

Intriguing isn't it that they've enlisted the services of one Ashwin Muralidharan late of Amazon who apparently played 'shadow' to their top health executive. A shadow Watson! One wonders what secrets he carries within him. General Medicine they claim will be a marketplace of medical marvels. Connect with a doctor for specific ailments or simply chat about your symptoms. It's a digital consulting room a far cry from the fog laden streets of London but no less filled with mysteries I suspect.

The Currency of Care: Cash or Credit?

Payment options abound so they say. Cash or insurance take your pick! Most major providers are welcome which is more than can be said for some of the nefarious characters I've encountered in my time. General Medicine in their quest for excellence draws upon its own medical groups networks of specialists and the humble local providers clinics and labs. A veritable tapestry of medical expertise woven together for the benefit of the patient. “Data! Data! Data!,” I can already hear myself crying. “I can’t make bricks without clay!” And in this case the data is health records!

Amazon's Ambitions: A Case of Mixed Success

Ah Amazon! That corporate leviathan that swallowed PillPack whole only for Parker and Cohen to leave in 2022 four years post acquisition. Their exit of course smells of a deduction waiting to be made. Amazon’s ambition to disrupt healthcare has been a case of “the game is afoot,” but with mixed results. They shuttered some offerings faster than a hound on the moor including a telehealth service and a fitness wearable which makes one wonder if their reach exceeds their grasp. They hold on to Amazon Pharmacy the offspring of PillPack. But have they bitten off more than they can chew? Only time will reveal the full picture.

The Curious Incident of the American Healthcare System

General Medicine seeks to address the "terrible experience of American healthcare." A noble aim Watson if somewhat grandiose. But then again have I ever shied away from an impossible case? They aim to provide access to "excellent care". Amazon too has sought to shake up the system applying its 'customer obsessed' mentality but as we've noted not without its stumbles. Perhaps with their previous experience Parker and Cohen are the chaps to do it.

A Prescription for the Future?

Founded in 2023 General Medicine began serving patients earlier this year before launching broadly this month. Can this new venture succeed where others have faltered? Will they finally crack the code of accessible affordable healthcare? I for one will be watching with keen interest. After all as I always say “When you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the truth.” And the truth my dear Watson is that the future of healthcare is still being written.