Online Pharmacy Use Growing but Most are Illegal
Friday, October 31st, 2008The number of visitors to online pharmacies almost tripled last year. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) found that 61% of these online pharmacies offer foreign drugs which are not approved by the US FDA and so are technically not legal to sell in the US. It also reports 97% of these sites are operating out of compliance with state and federal laws. For instance, 93% do not require a valid prescription and 25% do not secure patients’ personal information.
As of October 2008, NABP has assessed more than 1,000 Internet drug outlets and these are listed on the NABP Web site, www.nabp.net/ip.asp. However the number of visits to online pharmacies is on the rise. The report cites 99,000 visitors to Internet drug outlets by the second quarter of 2008, compared to 32,000 visitors by the same time last year.
So how do shoppers ensure the are dealing with and online pharmacy that is safe and secure? The FDA advises people to use Internet pharmacies that are accredited through the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program. However this accreditation is only available to US pharmacies so the savings that shoppers are looking for will probably not be available at these online pharmacies.
A site that does verify both US and non US online pharmacies is Pharmacy Checker (www.PharmacyChecker.com). The Pharmacy Checker verification program is available to online pharmacy sites worldwide. Established in 2003, it helps consumers find online pharmacies that sells prescription drugs dispensed from a licensed pharmacy in good standing.