We Americans are fond of referring to Canada as the ‘Great White North’. A lot of us know it as the land of cheap prescription drugs as well. Online Canadian pharmacies are flourishing thanks to their ability to sell hundreds of medications at lower prices.
Under former president Donald Trump, Washington loosened its restrictions on purchasing prescription medications from Canada. It has been good for patients. Still, not all that glitters is gold. Consumers still have to be careful when they choose to purchase medications online.
Canada Pharmacy, a licensed and accredited online pharmacy, offers the following tips for purchasing prescription medications from online Canadian operators:
1. Check the Licensing
First and foremost, always make sure a pharmacy is licensed. Some are not. In fact, the FDA sent a warning letter to one Canadian company a few years back after discovering the company wasn’t always delivering what customers thought they were getting. It turns out the company is not a licensed pharmacy. It doesn’t even fill prescriptions itself. Rather, it sends them to third parties for filling.
Licensing is an absolute must. Canadian pharmacists can be licensed by a number of organizations, including the BC College of Pharmacists.
2. Check for Accreditation
A licensed online pharmacy should also be accredited by a recognized governing body. Canada Pharmacy is accredited by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association. The company is also a member of the International Pharmacy Association of British Columbia. Both associations demonstrate the company’s legal compliance, integrity, and high standards.
3. Never Purchase Without a Prescription
Whatever you do, don’t purchase any prescription medications without a valid prescription. Any online pharmacy willing to bypass a legitimate prescription is one you don’t want to do business with. An obvious exception is buying over the counter medications.
4. Be Suspicious of Rock Bottom Pricing
You expect to save money buying your prescription medications online. Indeed, saving money is the number one factor motivating people to turn to online purchases. Still, be very suspicious of rock bottom pricing that seems too good to be true. Along the same lines, compare generics with generics and brand-name drugs with brand-name drugs. That is where you get a true picture of pricing.
5. Check Shipping Details
In terms of shipping, there are two red flags. First is the online Canadian pharmacy claiming to ship worldwide. The volume and variety of regulatory regimes makes worldwide shipping impractical for most operations. So there’s something fishy when worldwide shipping is claimed. Stick with an organization that ships exclusively to the U.S.
It is also smart to read the finer details to see if an online pharmacy indicates shipping from a foreign country. In other words, avoid prescription drugs purchased in Canada but shipped from China. You want medications that are shipped directly from the pharmacy from its own premises.
6. Look into the Pharmacy’s Reputation
Finally, always look into a pharmacy’s reputation. According to the FDA, only 3% of the online pharmacies examined by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) are doing things by the book.
Look for online reviews and news stories relating to the pharmacy in question. Check with the NABP. If you suspect an online pharmacy isn’t legit, walk away. There is no need to risk your health purchasing prescription medications from an organization that doesn’t take its responsibility seriously.
Online Canadian pharmacies provide a vital service to Americans looking for less expensive prescription drugs. Feel free to use them as you see fit. Just be cautious. Do your homework and make sure the pharmacy you are purchasing from is the real deal.