Amazon Japan announced on July 23 that it has launched an online prescription drug sales business called Amazon Pharmacy.

The new venture is in partnership with 2,500 shops nationwide in Japan of nine major dispensing pharmacies and drugstores, including Welcia Holdings and Tomod's.

When users receive an e-prescription from their healthcare provider and register it with the app, a pharmacist will provide online medication instructions, after which the medicines will be delivered to their requested location.

Amazon, which has a large market share in online retail, entering into online prescription drugs sales could lead to increased competition across the industry as a whole.