We live in an age where digital transactions are taking over; everything is done through the internet by virtually buying and selling things and getting them shipped or sent to your doorstep. Buying medicine online is no different, it does have a lot of benefits, but it also has its downsides. Take a look below at some of the facts that you need to know about online pharmacies.
1-What’s So Different About Them?
When you start comparing online pharmacies with traditional ones, you’d see that it’s much easier and saves you the hassle of leaving your home to get your medication. Like anything done virtually online, it can be done from the comfort of your seat at home or anywhere with ease. It’s also possible that you might get some better deals and cheaper prices online, you just have to make sure it’s legitimate, safe, and FDA approved. Also, these websites comply with the general rule, all the medications that you purchase must be prescribed by your doctor. It’s possible to buy certain drugs without the required prescription, but it won’t be safe or reliable. Also the General Medical Council (GMC) has laws/rules that will prosecute any inappropriate prescribing practices even in the online world.
2-Can It Be Done Privately?
The awesome thing about online pharmacies is that it can be done anonymously, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed anymore from purchasing certain medications. Also, there are ways for you to ask questions online in live chat pop-up windows with certified and reliable pharmacists that can help you by answering your questions, and of course it can be done privately and anonymously. Internet pharmacies can also offer printable online product information for you, as well as links to other sources of information about the medicine you frequently buy and your health condition. So no more worrying about the people around you if you have questions or concerns, everything can be done privately from your home and nobody will know about it.
3-The Possible Downsides That You Need to Watch Out For
Like with anything online, there are possibilities of getting fake or damaged products. Watch out for some uncertified and illegal-based websites that offer a certain drug and it turns out to be something else when it arrives at your doorstep. There are laws that help prevent this though, like the one that was put into place by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2019. Its goal is to get rid of any counterfeit medication from the different supply chains, by giving the medication a barcode when it’s in the production phase. This barcode is then entered into a national database and is tracked from the manufacturer, to the wholesaler, and to the Pharmacist. So this makes it easier to spot fake medications and it won’t reach anyone eventually. The pharmacies that operate both online or traditionally must now abide by the law/rules put into place by the Falsified Medications Directive (FMD). Sometimes these online websites aren’t certified, so you need to make sure to check their logo below on the bottom of the page. This verification method was made possible by the MHRA and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) to allow site visitors to click on the logo and view the pharmacy registration status, so you would know for sure if this is a reliable website to purchase from or not.
The Future of Online Pharmacies
In the next five to 10 years, online pharmacies will experience a significant increase in patient utilization and number of prescriptions being ordered. According to a Hungarian Survey conducted in 2018, 43% of the people had chronic health conditions and were aware of the online presence with 4.17% of them already ordering their medication online. Another survey conducted by the journal of medical internet research showed that 72% of the online population in the US and 71% in Europe had searched for health information at least once in the past year, showing an increase in online purchases of goods and medication. So in the future more and more people will turn to online pharmacies.
Purchase With Caution
The benefits of online pharmacies are so many, but it might make you lose track of the bad things that could come along with it. Do your research and find the best website to buy your medication that is also certified. Always double or triple check for safety and legitimacy.
To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.