For ease and convenience, the sales of consumer products (including pharmaceuticals) online has seen rapid growth in the last few years. You can now buy medicines and refill your prescriptions at an online pharmacy with just a few clicks.
What are online pharmacies?
Online pharmacies are pharmacies that operate over the Internet and can help with customer medication/prescriptions by sending orders via mail or shipping companies. Online pharmacies are just like mail-order pharmacies, and they require proper licensing and certifications to legally operate. Many of these online pharmacies use the same safety measures for prescribing medicine as with traditional pharmacies.
Some of them are even popular large pharmacy chains or locally-owned pharmacies set up to serve clients electronically.
Purchasing medication from an online pharmacy comes with a lot of benefits, such as;
- Lower cost of prescription drugs (discounts, coupons and referral points)
- Access to a wider range of drugs, including brand name drugs and generic versions.
- Refills can be automatic, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to refill your medication.
- Easier access to expert advice and guidance from licensed pharmacists.
- Convenience- online pharmacies are also very convenient, which means that you can have your medications delivered to your doorstep in just a few simple steps.
- Discretion and privacy- online pharmacies do not require any face to face interaction. Only your valid doctor’s prescription is needed, although some may require you to fill out a medical questionnaire.
How online pharmacies work
Generally, purchasing drugs from a legal online pharmacy involves a few simple steps. These include;
Creating an account – Most online pharmacies will require you to create an account where you can place your orders and also safely submit your credit and insurance information. However, before you do this, ensure that the online pharmacy is properly licensed to sell prescription medications by the country and the state in which they operate.
Provide a valid prescription – Once your account has been created, you will be required to provide a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare professional in order to place your medication order. Online pharmacies like Canadian Pharmacy have made this process easy. All you have to do is email/fax your prescription to the email address/fax number on their website.
Payment – Once your prescription has been sent and reviewed, you will be contacted by a customer service representative to discuss and confirm your payment options.
Delivery – After your prescription and order have been approved, the final step is delivery. Some online pharmacies operate by sending products from a central spot to your doorstep, while others may offer the option of allowing you to pick them up at a local pharmacy near you.
Whichever option you choose, deliveries are typically quick with little to no shipping charges. However, for overnight delivery, some pharmacies may charge a little extra.
For any questions or concerns you have about your prescription, many online pharmacies also have an on-call pharmacist available to give advice and answer all your questions. This can be done via email or a toll-free number.
Conclusion:
Online pharmacies work great, especially for people who are too busy or incapable of making the trip to the local or traditional pharmacy. With just a few easy steps, you can have access to a wide variety of quality and affordable medicine, all from the comfort of your home. Ensure to carry out proper research on any online pharmacy you intend to purchase from and also make sure that they have the proper license to operate.
