Internet-based pharmacies operating out of Canada have gained much business in the last few decades. The ease of availability and competitive pricing have lured many clients from the usa to Canadian online pharmacies. As of 2005, more than 7000 pharmacies established in Canada, almost 270 were said to be operating either completely from the Internet or were using a blend of traditional and space dialing methods – including net-based retail.
Most of these firms operate from Western Canada and the industry employs nearly 7000 people. While the numbers may well not look overwhelming, the range of clients catered to by these online drug stores is quite significant. Of the total sales of pharmaceutical goods, mailorder drugs alone raked in upwards of 1 billion in earnings in 2004. The internet sites serve an estimated two million patients in america including seniors and those with no insurance.
However, it hasn’t become a Online pharmacy smooth sail for its Canadian internet pharmacy industry. It had to protect itself from the charges came from many quarters. Fears have been raised that Canadian physicians were clarifying prescriptions issued by US physicians. The Online Pharmacy industry has denied most of the allegations. According to them, Canadian physicians often review the prescription supplied by their US counterparts and also do a double check to the individual’s medical background. In the event of doubts, then the Canadian physicians also revert back into the patient’s original doctor based in the usa.
These were attempting to sell drugs to buyers within america by asserting that this action didn’t violate any Government and therefore were entirely legal.
As per a study, it had been found that some of the Canadian online pharmacy stores were actually situated in america. These were operating illegally and so were providing drugs under the guise of being canada-based on line stores. Several US based shops were purchasing drugs from Canadian firms and attempting to sell them in US.
Furthermore, the handling and shipping of those drugs also have increased safety concerns since some physicians in the US feel that temperature sensitive drugs were being imported without giving due consideration to packing detail. That may have serious consequences for the security and potency of the drug being imported. Production concerns also have been increased in the usa as many of those drugs may have been fabricated in bulk and a compromise on quality problems cannot be completely eliminated.
Now voices are rising in Canada it self to govern the online pharmacy industry. There’s a proposal to create in an amendment which requires Canadian physicians to examine the patient physically before giving out prescriptions. This might also mean that Canadian physicians cannot rewrite prescriptions given with their US counterparts. This move was criticized with the online pharmacy industry in Canada. The oft-quoted rationale being the loss of occupations that may happen in wake of this amendment. The industry can be up in arms being portrayed as practitioners of unethical and unethical business practices. Canada is also likely to crack down on pharmacies operating without the necessary Enforcement Permit. Under Canadian legislation, such a license is necessary for any commercial company involved with manufacturing, packaging, import, delivery, bulk purchase and testing of medication here. This law empowers the government to trace the complete string of purchase of this medication from the manufacturer to an individual in the event of a negative influence of a drug. In addition, it enables faster monitoring and framing of charges.
Strange as it may look, though there’s some doubt one of the overall US population for all these pharmacy services and products, the variety of online buyers for drugs is rising every quarter. The industry has seen healthy growth rates before and unless Canada goes ahead and modulates this tendency is anticipated to continue at least for the foreseeable future. US customers also seem to be aware to the simple fact in case of unwanted side outcomes, there is no legal recourse available as it will be impossible to locate the seller of the medication. Buyers appear to be lapping up these drugs no matter the typical feeling that there may be protection as well as other issues in purchasing them online.