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June, 30, 2008
With drug prices skyrocketing, more people are looking beyond the borders to obtain
the medicine they need. Canada has long been a main provider of drugs, mainly because of
its lower prices and its easy access. Still, pros and cons of buying foreign drugs
are still a consideration, especially for those who are using the Internet to access them.
U.S. Law:
U.S. government officials have stated that individuals who order prescription drugs
from Canada or other foreign sources (up to 90 day quantities) for their own use are not
being pursued or prosecuted. However, it is technically not legal to order prescription
drugs from abroad.
Warning
When searching for drugs from Canada through specialty websites, there are actually two
types of sites that you can encounter. The first one is a standard pharmacy, which sells
drugs online but still requires a prescription from your doctor, which must be either
emailed or uploaded before drugs can be ordered. These are legal sites, which are offering
a discount but still comply with all rules and regulations.
The other type of website is one that offers drugs for sale to anybody who fills out a
quick questionnaire. This is considered a replacement for a prescription, and you are
charged a fee as you would for a visit to your doctor. Because there is no control or
thorough checking with this second method, there is always a chance of complications
and health issues.
Considerations
When purchasing drugs from Canada, it is important to factor in delivery times. If the
drug you are looking for must be started within the next two or three days, it just
makes sense to buy locally. Because legal pharmacies need to go over your prescription
and approve the shipment before it actually goes out of their warehouse, you should expect
an average of a week or more for the drugs to reach you. This may be OK if you are buying
a refill and doing so with enough time, but it can be a problem otherwise.
How to Buy Medicine in Canada
1. Identify Canadian Pharmacy Filling Prescription:
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The U.S. patient should know the Canadian pharmacy's name, address, phone number,
license number, and province where the pharmacy is licensed.
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This information should be clearly identified on the web page, on registration forms
or provided by affiliate U.S. organizations.
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Deal with a CIPA pharmacy, but be aware that some use the CIPA seal fraudulently. To
be certain, go to Verify Membership and enter the name of the pharmacy you
are considering.
2. Contact the Canadian provincial pharmacy regulatory agency:
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To ensure that the pharmacy is a legitimate Canadian pharmacy the patient can contact
the provincial pharmacy regulatory agency.
Alberta,
British Columbia,
Manitoba
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The provincial pharmacy regulatory agency sets standards of practice and regulates
pharmacy from a patient safety perspective.
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If contacting a regulatory agency, be sure the mention the filling pharmacy name that will
be found on the CIPA member's site.
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A U.S. patient has the same rights as a Canadian patient to file a complaint with a
provincial pharmacy regulatory agency.
3. Make Sure Your Canadian Pharmacy Follows the Rules
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The Canadian pharmacy should require a prescription from the patient's U.S. physician.
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The Canadian pharmacy should obtain both demographic and medical information from the
U.S. patient.
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The Canadian pharmacy should have a Canadian physician review patient information
before authorizing a Canadian prescription.
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The U.S. patient should have access to a Canadian pharmacist for the purpose of
medication counseling and drug information.
NEVER ORDER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM A SITE THAT TELLS YOU IT WILL SHIP YOUR ORDER
WITHOUT REQUIRING A PRESCRIPTION.
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