Online Drugs — A Prescription for Problems?

As the popularity of online pharmacies grows, so do the concerns surrounding them. Poor customer service is often cited by consumers when using online stores. A larger concern to regulators, however, is the ease with which one can order drugs online without a prescription. In Canada, a prescription written by a doctor licensed in Canada is required for ordering drugs online. In the United States, the majority of states do not specifically prohibit prescriptions based solely on online consultations or medical questionnaires. Regulatory agencies find it difficult to take action as many of these online pharmacies are outside of regulatory control of the country they are providing services to. In an effort to combat these and other problems, a number of certification programs have initiated. These groups promise to act as a liaison between the online pharmacies and the consumers. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the association which represents all 50 state boards of pharmacy in the U.S., has developed a voluntary certification program which includes an on-site inspection of the pharmacy in question. The North American Pharmacy Accreditation Commission is made up of online pharmacies which have joined together to create their own accreditation program. For more information on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, visit: http://www.nabp.net/ For more information on the North American Pharmacy Accreditation Commission, visit: http://napac.org/