One Medical offers virtual appointments, plus in-person care, in 15 U.S. metro areas. Amazon’s purchase price of US$18 a share is a premium of nearly 77 per cent over the US$10.18 where One Medical’s stock closed on Wednesday. (The Logic)

Talking point: Amazon already has a health arm, Amazon Care, with premises in eight cities as of February, and plans to expand to 20 more this year. Adding One Medical’s operations will supercharge that growth. After disrupting almost every part of the retail experience, the company said it sees an “opportunity to both improve the quality of the [health care] experience and give people back valuable time in their days.” In Canada, such services are increasingly offered through workplace benefit plans and in exchange for out-of-pocket payments. Companies in both the health sector (like Shoppers Drug Mart) and telecom (like Telus) have gotten in on it, though provincial governments are beginning to restrict public funding for care delivered this way after an initial pandemic-driven rush.