Four Things You Should Know Before Choosing an Online Pharmacy

The Internet has made our lives very convenient. According to Anand et al. (2010), the Internet reached approximately 150 million people in just five years; on the contrary, television and radio took 13 years and 38 years to become famous. Accessibility, convenience and speed are a few advantages of the internet that empowered people by becoming a medium for knowledge exchange and e-commerce. Thus the impact of the internet on the healthcare industry is tremendous. In today’s world pharma industry has reached every house through the internet, unlike the old times,  when a consumer had to go to a local pharmacy store to purchase medicine. The consumer can choose the pills or medication on the website or an app by purchasing it from an online pharmacy.  

An online pharmacy is a business establishment that sells medicines prescribed by a registered healthcare provider via online ordering by uploading the prescription on the website or the app. Patients can now get their medicine at their doorsteps.  

How does an E -Pharmacy work?

1. Sign up for the mobile-based application of the desired company.
2. Consumers upload copies of their prescriptions and order medicines. 
3. A team of registered pharmacists verifies every order that is received.
4. The registered pharmacists now forward the validated prescriptions to the pharmacy store from where the medicines are dispensed and ready for shipping. 
5. IT Act 2000 is essential for web or mobile-based platforms. This IT Act provides a platform to connect a consumer and pharmacy store. 

Internet pharmacies, cyber-pharmacies, and e-pharmacies are synonymous with Online pharmacies. They sell doctor-prescribed drugs only. Along with medicines, they also offer a wide range of beauty products and over-the-counter medications, and some online pharmacies provide doctor consultations.

But how should one know if the e-pharmacy they are choosing is good enough?

What should you look for in an online pharmacy?

1. Check the authenticity of the Sale of drugs: 

A genuine e-pharmacy will never list unauthorised medications on its website.  An online pharmacy cannot sell habit-forming drugs, narcotic painkillers, sedatives or stimulants. A prescription from a registered medical practitioner is a must.  Always make sure that the medicine prescribed is approved. 

These cyber pharmacies should be certified by the Pharmacy Council of India. Any company in the business of e-pharmacy should have registration of the Central Licensing Authority in Form 18 (AA) through the online portal of the Central Government.

A license ensures that these online pharmacies follow all safety and quality standards.

An important method to verify the e-pharmacy you want to buy medicine from is by ascertaining the pharmacy’s licencing by looking up its information on other relevant websites. Online pharmacies should have a physical address on their websites.

Avoid the purchase of medication from websites or mobile apps that tend to sell drugs without a prescription. It is a thumb rule that online pharmacies should insist on uploading doctors’ prescriptions to sell drugs.

Also, stay away from those pharmacies that offer to prescribe the medication for you.

2. Provide invoices for every transaction

The online pharmacy should invoice their customers for every transaction they make. They should protect all the information regarding the transaction and not misuse it. 

Always make sure that online pharmacies are selling medicine at a reasonable price. Giving too many discounts or offers can be ambiguous. 

The e-pharmacy should not charge you for medication that you never ordered.  

3. Maintains confidentiality

When we want to purchase medicines online, we must sign up on the websites of the respective online pharmacies. We fill up our personal information. 

An authentic e- pharmacy will always protect the information of the beneficiaries. Some online fraud pharmacies tend to sell the patient’s personal information and thus compromise confidentiality.

4. Quality of medicines 

A registered pharmacist should check when the medicine is dispatched from the pharmacy warehouse. 

These pharmacists should check expiry dates and the content of the medication ordered. 

Ensure that the online pharmacy has a recall plan if you receive tampered medicines. 

Look for the grievance redressal mechanism. What policies address a complaint if a patient has any query? 

There should be a registered pharmacist to answer the questions of the customer. This helpline is open for 12 hours, seven days a week.

Conclusion: 

Online pharmacies have pros and cons. Choosing the right online pharmacy is essential as it deals with the lives of several beneficiaries. The regulatory authorities should keep a close eye on online pharmacies. The online pharmacy would help provide authentic medicines throughout the country. A genuine online pharmacy is licensed and registered by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Online pharmacies must provide treatments only if a doctor’s prescription is uploaded. The online pharmacy should produce an invoice against every transaction and provide good quality medicines (non-tampered with expiry date and content mentioned).

Disclaimer– This content, including advice and medications, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more details.

Reference

• Center for Drug Evaluation, & Research. (2023, June 6). BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/quick-tips-buying-medicines-over-internet/besaferx-your-source-online-pharmacy-informationBeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information | FDA
• Orizio, G., Merla, A., Schulz, P. J., & Gelatti, U. (2011). Quality of online pharmacies and websites selling prescription drugs: a systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 13(3), e74. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1795Journal of Medical Internet Research – Quality of Online Pharmacies and Websites Selling Prescription Drugs: A Systematic Review (jmir.org)
• Desai, C. (2016). Online pharmacies: A boon or bane? Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 48(6), 615–616. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.194865Public eHealth and new scenarios in terms of risks and opportunities: a specific focus on cyber pharmacies: Social Semiotics: Vol 20, No 1 (tandfonline.com)
• Desai, C. (2016). Online pharmacies: A boon or bane? Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 48(6), 615–616. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.194865Online pharmacies: A boon or bane? – PMC (nih.gov)