Online pharmacies fill your prescriptions and deliver them to your home, just like your neighborhood pharmacy. Most online pharmacies offer lower prices than local pharmacies and serve more patients. There are many processes behind the scenes to make your purchase safe and legal. The College of Pharmacists of each province regulates and licenses Canadian pharmacies, whereas the FDA certifies US pharmacies.
You can usually find the pharmacy's certification on their website, but if you can't, contact them and verify their registration. On Canada Drugs Direct, you can find all pharmacies in British Columbia.
A big deal of savings can be found in online pharmacies, especially for seniors. There are, however, some online pharmacies and medications that are not safe. If you're interested in buying medication online, you should research the pharmacy before ordering from the first search on Google.
Many trustworthy-looking websites do not dispense quality medication from real pharmacies. Globally, 96% of online pharmacies are fake, and 74% are in North America. The risk of ordering fake medication is many-fold; it may not have the correct ingredients, be in the wrong strength, be stored improperly, and even contain personal information.
Online pharmacies are plentiful, so finding a real pharmacy that suits you can be difficult. Ask your friends and family for recommendations. Tips for finding a reputable Canadian online pharmacy:
1. Verify their credentials
Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) accreditation is the first step to finding reputable Canadian online pharmacies.
Since 2002, this association has ensured safe online pharmaceutical shopping. The Canadian government also licenses and regulates each member.
Make sure your online Canadian pharmacy has the CIPA seal. Check if it's on the CIPA list of safe online pharmacies if the website has one.
2. Shop on a secure site
Secure websites are essential when shopping online. The website is secure if the URL starts with "https://." 'S' stands for 'secure.' Beware if it isn't present. A lock icon will also be next to the URL or your browser's top bar if the website is secure.
3. Prescription Required
Prescription medications cannot be sold without a prescription in Canada. The absence of a prescription request on a website is a huge red flag.
4. Check out their privacy policies of the Canadian online pharmacy
If you are looking for reputable Canadian online pharmacies, read through their privacy policies and the tips above.
This way, your private information will be protected from third-party companies without your consent. It would be best to exercise caution before purchasing a product from a Canadian online pharmacy company with an unclear or nonexistent privacy policy.
5. Keep an eye out for any of these red flags:
- Prescriptions are required at the Canadian online pharmacy
- Provide "miracle cures."
- Low/discounted prices for drugs
- Worldwide medication shipping
Conclusion
Make sure you go through this checklist when researching reputable Canadian online pharmacies to avoid being scammed. The savings aren't the only reason you might want to purchase your medications online. Buy prescription drugs online and enjoy these other benefits.