Hospital supplier shares dive on Amazon medical supply report

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

An x-ray machine sits in an exam room at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton, Illinois.

Amazon is gearing up to launch a larger offering in the medical supplies business, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

The revamped service will serve hospitals and clinics. The e-commerce giant is looking to expand its Amazon Business marketplace to serve the health-care industry, according to hospital executives the WSJ said. Amazon Business already has a smaller offering of medical supplies.

Shares of health-care supplier and services companies McKesson, Cardinal Health and Owens & Minor are all lower more than 3 percent in Tuesday’s pre-market session.

The disruptive internet company made another move affecting the health-care industry last month.

Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan Chase announced a partnership on Jan. 30 to cut health costs and improve services for employees.

Amazon, McKesson and Owens & Minor did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Cardinal Health declined to comment.

Amazon shares were little changed in premarket.

Read the full Wall Street Journal article here.