ONLINE PHARMACY- A BOON OR CURSE?

Online pharmacy- A boon or curse ?

The Internet has revolutionized the way in which ordinary people conduct their everyday business. People can bank pays bills, manage investments, order various products, and obtain information on an infinite number of topics online. It is not surprising that such an innovation would provide a vehicle for the layperson to educate them and guide the direction of their health. Nor is it surprising that the healthcare industry would seize this opportunity to modernize a commonplace function—prescription dispensation.

 Many online pharmacies offer overnight shipping, allowing customers to avoid the delay of regular mail. Internet pharmacies can offer privacy that is often lacking in a traditional pharmacy. However, there is need to consider critically the ethical principles in the use of cyber medicine. The development of online pharmacies has prompted regulatory and monitoring actions at the federal, state, and professional organization levels. The sale of online medications in the international system is potentially dangerous and requires international regulation.

Here is an overview of online pharmacies, their potential benefits, the organizations involved in regulating these sites, and the major controversies surrounding online pharmacies.

Boon:

From few days it has been observed that purchasing medicines online has gained popularity these days. Development of these stores is an important innovation. These shops serve as an alternative to the local pharmacies and compete with them in terms of convenience and of course price. Now you might be thinking why these shops are gaining fame? Right? Well, there are various reasons to these questions.

One of the many benefits with these pharmacies is the convenience. People, instead of going to the local shops can type the name of the necessary medicines in the search box on the website of the pharmacy and can make a couple of clicks. And after waiting for a short period they are getting the desired product at their house.

Benefits offered by online pharmacy  is the moderate price charged by them on a list of medicines. This pharmacy usually offer medicines at a price quite less than the original price. It is because this pharmacy do not have any set up like the local pharmacies .The local pharmacies have showrooms and they charge more money for the maintenance, but online pharmacies do not charge more money.

"They sell medicines at a less price".

The next benefit is that we provide special offers on their products so that you can easily buy medicines and can save some amount of money. When you surf the website, you might have paid attention that there are a number of medicines that are sold at a reduced price. Even these pharmacies offered a high rate discounts on their products. If you are getting a product at Rs.10 from a local shop then it is sure that you will get the same product at Rs.7 from the online pharmacies. Apart from these, these pharmacies do not charge any amount for the delivery of the product. You can get your product by sitting at your home and can save money.

Curse:

Two dangers that go hand-in-hand are self-diagnosis and self-medication because consumers can purchase prescription drugs without ever speaking to a pharmacist or physician. In these days of managed care, it might be weeks before a patient can see a physician for non-emergency purposes. Patients might choose to treat themselves rather than wait for an appointment, or the patient simply may be too embarrassed to discuss the health problem with his physician. These dangers are especially significant given that numerous Internet pharmacies are willing to dispense prescription drugs without a valid prescription.

When a patient utilizes an Internet pharmacy, which provides a medication, based on a cyber-consultation, or if the pharmacy directly dispenses the medication without a prescription, important safeguards are missed. Not only does the patient miss an examination by his physician, the possibility exists that a licensed pharmacist may never review the prescription. The patient bypasses the two professionals who traditionally inform patients of proper utilization, dangerous side effects, and drug interactions.

 Another drawback to Internet pharmacies may be cost, as some consumers pay more for prescription medications obtained over the Internet. High shipping costs and an inability to participate in many insurance plans adds to the cost. Another area of concern involves the prescribing-physician’s credentials. The cyber doctor’s qualifications and his experience may be questionable, yet the patient has no way to screen the physician.

"At last i have to say that every coin has two faces and everything has two ways of using it, it depends on you how to."