Will prescription delivery cure what ails Kmart? 

A struggling department store chain is joining the increasingly crowded field of retailers who offer home delivery of prescription medications.

Kmart Pharmacy is partnering with prescription delivery platform ScriptDrop to provide home delivery of prescription medications within a 10-mile radius of the in-store pharmacy, Monday through Friday. With ScriptDrop's service, prescriptions will be dropped off contact-free at the customer’s door, with no need to sign for the delivery.  

The retailer is introducing prescription delivery as reports indicate there may be as few as 43 Kmart stores currently open across the country. Publix Pharmacy launched its own collaboration with ScriptDrop in May, and other retailers including Rite Aid, Costco, and CVS have also launched prescription delivery programs since the COVID-19 pandemic began restricting daily life in the U.S.

Customers using the Kmart prescription delivery service will receive a "Ready for Pickup" text message once their prescription is ready, indicating a delivery option with a link to follow. Shoppers then confirm delivery information and pay an $8 delivery fee (which may vary). Same-day delivery is available for customers within 10 miles and next-day delivery is available up to 150 miles.

If the customer requests delivery before 11 a.m., they will receive their prescription the same day, after 2 p.m. If the request comes after 11 a.m., they will receive their prescription the next business day. Orders placed after 11 a.m. on Friday will be delivered on Monday.

“The need for prescription delivery has never been greater," said Jennifer Speares Lehman, registered pharmacist and divisional VP for Kmart Pharmacy. "Vulnerable patients need a way to get their essential medications without leaving home, as all Americans have been cautioned to continue social distancing for the time being."