Amazon quietly launching an exclusive over-the-counter product line piqued readers' attention the most in 2018.
Below are that story and the nine other most-read supply chain stories , published by Becker's Hospital Review this year, beginning with the most popular:
1. Amazon quietly launches exclusive OTC product line: 7 things to know
Amazon quietly launched Basic Care, an exclusive line of 60 over-the-counter healthcare products, in August — a move that could place more pressure on pharmacy retail chains.
2. Amazon pushes to become a major hospital supplier: 7 things to know
Expanding its move into healthcare, Amazon aims to turn its developing medical supplies business into a major supplier to U.S. hospitals and outpatient clinics.
3. Amazon 'poaches' 20 jobs from CVS, Express Scripts, UnitedHealth: 6 things to know
In the last 18 months, Amazon has hired more than 20 employees, including software engineers, data analysts and business strategists with years of experience in healthcare or pharmaceutical industries at such companies as CVS Health, Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group.
4. Hospital-owned drug company secures $100M and a CEO who will work for free
Seven major health systems, representing about 500 hospitals, have teamed up to form a nonprofit company named Civica Rx to manufacture their own generic medicines.
5. Intermountain, SSM, Ascension and Trinity Health to launch generic drug company
Four health systems from across the country plan to form a nonprofit generic drug company to address the high costs and shortages of generic medications.
6. Amazon reportedly working with a startup to launch medical product delivery at major health systems
Amazon is in talks with Xealth, a startup that offers a digital prescribing and analytics platform, and two health systems about a pilot project that would enable physicians to recommend medical product bundles to their patients at the hospital and have those products delivered to the patients' homes upon discharge.
7. Netflix documentary reveals horror of medical device complications
A new Netflix documentary highlights the devastating complications of many FDA-approved medical devices.
8. Medtronic's new business model: You only pay if it works
Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak, PhD, is taking the medical device company in a slightly different direction: accepting more risk in how it gets paid for its products.
9. How Mass General is dealing with the worst opioid shortage in years: 7 things to know
Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital is one of many hospitals nationwide grappling with a severe shortage of intravenous opioids.
10. Bayer fires back after scathing Netflix medical device documentary
Bayer is fighting back against accusations about its birth control device Essure in a Netflix documentary that highlighted the stories of patients who suffered devastating complications while using many FDA-approved medical devices.