Consumer Safety: Can You Buy Medicines Safely Online?

Following numerous government warnings, is it time to take a closer look at consumer safety when buying medicines online

One might think that buying medicines online is convenient, cheaper and easy. But then, one must exercise caution because not every online seller is a legal pharmacy – as can be seen from a recent FDA press release which confirms that the US government will take action to safeguard citizens. Yet in some countries, unlawful pharmacies tend to outfox governments and it is worth raising the alarm bell on this issue.

Some people are buying medicines without a prescription and that carries huge risks as the drugs may be illegal, meaning that they have not been tested and approved by the country’s drug administration. This may lead to the consumption of toxic or ineffective medicines. Here are the tips to purchase medicine online in a safer way:

Make Sure the Pharmacy is Registered

All pharmacies are registered and regulated by the government but online pharmacies in India are not yet regulated by the laws of the land. Genuine Indian pharmacies have formed a consortium called Digital Health Platforms (DHP) which requires them to self-regulate and follow basic guidelines until the laws catch up. DHP is working with the government to help it formulate laws that are in line with current advancements in technology. So far there are draft guidelines for pharmacies that help them to operate.

Check to make sure that the pharmacy selling drugs online is registered according to the laws of India and that they are members of DHP. Such pharmacies will require prescriptions for medicines that are controlled. Also, they will have a registered pharmacist to give advice when you purchase non-prescription medicines.

Make Sure There is a Pharmacist to Answer Your Questions

Every pharmacy is required by law to have a registered pharmacist. Check to make sure that the online pharmacy that you want to purchase from has a pharmacist who can answer your questions and offer advice at any time.

A Genuine Pharmacy Will Ask for a Prescription

Certain drugs require a prescription because they are controlled substances. The reason for this control is the potential for misuse and abuse that can result in harming health or addiction. Genuine prescription drugs will come with a leaflet that contains pharmacological information about the drug, including warnings of overdose and overuse.

A genuine online pharmacy will ask for a prescription for such medicines. If a website does not ask for a prescription then the medicine is most likely fake and the pharmacy is most likely bogus. Also, if you have a fake prescription and the online seller accepts it, beware of that seller. All authorized prescribers have a practice number that can be checked on the government database.

Pharmacist-Only Medicines

There are medicines that do not require a prescription but can only be issued by a registered pharmacist in a registered pharmacy. Examples of these are strong painkillers that may result in overdose and therefore need the guidance and advice of a pharmacist. Illicit painkillers are causing a lot of harm worldwide in terms of overdose and death. If you find that you can purchase strong painkillers easily then beware of that online seller.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can only be purchased with a prescription. That is because they can only be useful at certain strengths and they have to be taken for a given length of time. If an online store offers to sell antibiotics without a prescription, it is not a genuine pharmacy and the medicine is most likely illegal. Be aware that if you keep buying antibiotics without a prescription then your doctor is not aware of what you are taking and you may increase the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Using PharmEasy to Recognize Lawful Outfits

Distinguishing lawful VS illegal pharmacies can be hard in some parts of the world. PharmEasy is an example of a service in India which helps people find only the most trusted, registered pharmacies. In fact, it connects people only to registered local pharmacies, thereby eliminating the risk of running into unregulated outfits.

They leverage technology and AI to improve the supply chain and make medicines more readily available to all people. There are, off course, numerous pharmacies covering India online, for example MedPlusMart, 1MG.com, Mchemist, NetMeds, Medijo and so forth – and in all cases, it is good to conduct a proper evaluation before placing any orders.

The supply chain innovation that PharmEasy brings, focuses on making genuine medicines available at a reduced rate – that is because their business model is more technology driven, incurring savings in the supply chain. This, in turn, enables them to pass on savings and provide free delivery of medicines in more than 1,000 cities and towns in the whole of India. They also connect people to registered diagnostic test services in some of the cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of the PharmEasy’s AI-driven approach is that it facilitates better information exchange between both patients, manufacturers and registered pharmacies: letting manufacturers know what is more in demand according to real time consumer preferences – and having a much wider supply chain that brings a scaled cost benefit to the consumer.

Final word on safety:

Governments around the world have put out notices to help people avoid unlawful pharmacies. By avoiding self-medicating or diagnosis – and by following the above guidelines, this can certainly reduce your chances of a bad experience.