Online pharmacies offer a convenient, private way to obtain medications, sometimes at more affordable prices. The elderly and persons in remote areas can skip visiting personally a store. Consultation with licensed pharmacists from the privacy of homes is luxurious.
It is fine if an agency honours ethical practices and consumers protection laws. Trouble arises when some unscrupulous businessmen sidetrack honesty for profiteering.
Federal and state safeguards require certain drugs having a valid prescription. It is unsafe to dispense them without a licensed practitioner. When a patient is prescribed a medicine for the first time, he has to be tested to decide appropriate treatment.
Internet makes it easy for dishonest to bypass these safeguards. A Website may look associated with a legitimate pharmacy while actually it is not. Websites that sell prescription drugs without a valid prescription deny consumers protection of examination by a licensed physician.
According to the American Medical Association, there are at least 400 web sites that both dispense and offer a prescribing service. Unofficial estimates put them closer to zooming 1,000. People buying prescription drugs from rogue Websites, risk fatal consequences from inappropriately prescribed medications and contaminated drugs.
FDA knew recently of a person who died after consuming Viagra bought from a Website bypassing examination by a doctor. He had a family history of heart disease. Mushroom growth of online agencies has endangered public health. FDA has been working with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and other organizations to address the problem. Both the FDA and NABP Websites have online reporting forms for consumers to lodge complaints.
The World Health Organization and FDA are also working on a manual “Medical Products and the Internet.” The guide will counsel buying medical products online.
The FDA has also stressed public education campaign impressing upon buyers to exercise caution while transacting business on Internet.
Consumers can verify with NABP if an online pharmacy is reputed. They should avoid online pharmacies selling medicines without a proper prescription or unapproved drugs.
Buyers should not deal with online pharmacies denying access to a registered pharmacist to answer their questions and keep away from Websites offering quick impossible cures.
Public has to appreciate that some unique Internet features make enforcement agencies’ job difficult. Internet’s broad reach, anonymity and ease in shuttling Websites are high tech variety offences. Many sites are inter connected and have multiple links, which makes investigations complex. There are jurisdictional challenges because regulatory and enforcement issues cross state, federal, and international lines.
Government agencies combating rogue Websites, face genuine limitations. Consumers need to assume responsibility and help mitigate the crime.
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