As telecommunication technology advances, dozens of new ecommerce websites appear out of the blue. At the same time, online pharmacies have also become easily accessible. Patients or anybody else can purchase their prescription medications and medical devices online. However, it has been a difficult process because medicine should not be purchased or used without a prescription from a doctor, as it might be misused or mishandled, causing harm and even toxicity. Hence, there are some precautions that you should take if you want to obtain your medication through an online pharmacy.
What Does Online Pharmacy Do?
In general, online pharmacies work by receiving orders and distributing the listed health supplements, medicines, medical devices and test kits to the consumers. An authorized health company is always the best panel you should surf because there will be licensed doctors and pharmacies to guide you. They will ensure that you can obtain the prescriptions you require, will instruct you on how to take or operate them correctly, and protect you from foul and unnecessary products.
Meanwhile, a non-medical authorized online pharmacy or third party drug retailers who are not healthcare professionals should be avoided at all costs. They may be offering medications and products that you do not require and/or that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is a significant problem. Misuse of medicines or wrong products can affect your organs and health, worsening your symptoms and/or producing more severe forms of diseases.
From the medical authorized online pharmacy, you may obtain health supplements such as vitamins, minerals, iron, fibers or so without the need of a medical prescription, because they are generally safe and uncommonly cause side effects. Consumers may select any health supplements of their choice. On the other hand, most medicines should be obtained with a prescription from a doctor. The reason for this is that doctors prescribe medicines according to their diagnosis for each case. Prescriptions based on a diagnosis can ensure that the patient is not harmed and that they receive the greatest benefit. Giving drugs without a diagnosis may put patients at danger, because all medicines contain chemicals that might have negative effects.
Furthermore, some common medical devices and screening tools are also available in the online pharmacy. For example, digital glucometer, digital blood pressure monitor, thermometer, digital oximeter and so on. It is ideal to have these devices at home for regular self monitoring if you have chronic conditions like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia or so. Taking a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test to screen for COVID-19 at clinics or hospitals may be inconvenient and costly for certain individuals. Therefore, screening tools like COVID-19 self testing kit can be pretty handy and cost friendly, especially when there is COVID-19 pandemic.
Is It Safe To Make Purchases From Online Pharmacy?
There is still more to be explored about online pharmacy; nevertheless, selecting a reputable site and online pharmacy is the most crucial step. Protect yourself by identifying the signs of dangerous and safe online pharmacies.
Signs Of Safe Online Pharmacy:
- Has the requirement of a doctor’s prescription.
- Has the physical address and phone number of the company.
- Has licensed pharmacists on staff list to answer any queries you may have.
- Has the authorization from FDA and Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH).
Signs Of Dangerous Online Pharmacy:
- No prescription from a doctor required.
- No physical address and phone number of the company written.
- No certification from FDA and Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH).
- No qualified pharmacists or doctors to address your inquiries.
- Medications and products that differ from what your local pharmacies supply, or arrive in defective and damaged packaging, in foreign languages, have no expiration date, or are expired.
- Unrealistic discounts or offers, extra charges which are not listed on the products or your cart.
- Does not provide safeguards for your personal and financial information.
