There are about 99,000 daily visitors to online pharmacies. To accommodate the growing need, there have been so many sites that got set up. While there was a decline in the number of online pharmacies, the sales have gone up from $4 billion to $12 billion. This just goes to show how the Internet is driving the people towards buying medications online.
The problem with the proliferation of online pharmacies is that the FDA is experiencing difficulties in regulating these sites. Many online pharmacies fail to abide by the laws. Many couldn t meet the standards in the United States too. These pharmacies should only be selling FDA approved medicines and nothing else.
Online websites could only sell prescription drugs legally if they abide by certain requirements: There should be a physician ready to prescribe the needed medication. This doctor should be able to check the medical history of the patient, ask critical questions relating to health, and be able to relate to the patient what the side effects are. FDA thinks that without the professional service of a physician, any online pharmacy has no right to sell prescription drugs.
There are more than 200 websites that can sell prescription drugs but you shouldn t be deceived or fooled. There are many websites that say simple online surveys about the patient can also be able to assess a person so, a doctor is not a real necessity. This is an illegal practice. The surveys or questionnaire may be able to assist the online physician to make a diagnosis but the information gathered may not be enough to really, really evaluate a patient s health status.
FDA approved medicines can be purchased from licensed pharmacies that meet the requirements of FDA. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) should recognize these online pharmacies too.
Now, what about foreign imports on prescription drugs? Majority of people who buy from the Internet buy from foreign sources for prescription drugs. This should be a major concern since the FDA cannot screen all incoming drugs. FDA approved medicines refer only to those that have gone through the meticulous screening process that ensures the safety of consumers.
So, when making purchases online take note of the following:
1. FDA approved medicines bear the sign or seal of the FDA. These should be on all the products being sold by the online pharmacy.
2. The sites should require prescriptions from a doctor.
There should be a resident physician and pharmacist who can readily assist the buyer.
3. Buy only from those pharmacies that are licensed to operate within your state.
4. Never volunteer your personal information like credit card account number to any vendor unless you have already established the credibility of the vendor.
5. Before purchasing any drug, make a thorough research about the side effects of that medication.
6. There should be a secured payment system that can protect the buyers during the transfer of payment for orders.
7. Orders should be processed for next day delivery upon payment
8. There must be an online tracking system that can help the buyer monitor their orders.
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