Did you know that about 30,000 to 35,000 online pharmacies operate worldwide? Unfortunately, not all of these are legitimate; many are illicit websites.
As such, it’s vital you know how to tell whether an online pharmacy is legit or not. We’ll share some of the ways you can confirm its legitimacy, so be sure to read on.
Licensed by the Boards of Pharmacy
Always make sure you check the licensure of a pharmacy when buying medicines online. Most countries have boards of pharmacy that oversee pharmacies and pharmacists. These agencies handle competency testing and licensure of pharmaceutical professionals.
In the US, all 50 states and four jurisdictions have a local board of pharmacy. All of them are members of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). All ten Canadian provinces are also NABP members.
With that said, legitimate US and Canadian pharmacies online hold NABP licenses. They publish their license details online, so this is one of the first things to look for. You can then check the license’s validity with the help of the NABPP or your local board of pharmacy.
The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) also licenses Canadian pharmacies. Each province, in turn, has a College of Pharmacy/Pharmacist or board. You can check an online pharmacy’s legitimacy with the help of your provincial board.
Always Requires Prescriptions
A valid prescription is a legal requirement when buying prescription medication. You need this even when buying drugs online. No respectable pharmacy will sell or refill your prescription supplies without this document.
According to Pricepropharmacy.com, a new prescription is also a must once the old one expires. The same goes when your existing prescription refills run out. Otherwise, a legitimate online pharmacy won’t dispense any medication.
For starters, it’s illegal to sell prescription drugs without a valid prescription. These documents, after all, help prevent illicit access to potent and controlled substances. They’re for public safety, too, as the use of prescriptions must be under the supervision of a doctor.
For that reason, the illegal sales of prescription drugs can lead to imprisonment. This applies to the unlawful sale and acquisition of such medications.
Follows Medication Quantity Restrictions
It’s legal to sell or buy prescriptions in bulk, but the exact quantity varies. For example, certain medications only allow you to buy up to a 30-day supply. Others have more lenient regulations, letting you buy up to a 90-day supply.
A legitimate online pharmacy will only dispense up to the allowable maximum quantity. So if you can only buy up to a 30-day supply, then that’s all you a legit pharmacy will dispense. If the pharmacy tells you otherwise, they’re likely a fake or rogue entity.
Choose Your Preferred Online Pharmacy With Care
As you can see, it’s not that hard to verify the legitimacy of an online pharmacy, so long as you know what to look for. The most important detail you need is the pharmacy’s license information. Once you have this, you can simply call your local boards of pharmacy to confirm its validity.
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