Food and herbal nutritional products » Medicine » Internet - The Growing Marketplace For Purchase Of Prescription Drugs
Internet - The Growing Marketplace For Purchase Of Prescription Drugs
View PDF | Print View
by: Guest
Total views: 278 Word Count: 456
The provision of Internet pharmacy services has proved to be an area of rapid growth with the turn of the century. Pharmaceutical services provided to the people via the Internet include the dispensing of prescriptions, the sale of medicines and the provision of information on web site pages to improve patient access to various prescription drugs at their convenience. Although the term 'Internet Pharmacy' has been used both by the media and the people to describe registered pharmacies and other commercial suppliers who offer to sell medicines on-line, the actual definition should be somewhat near to this: "a registered pharmacy which offers to sell or supply medicines and/or provides other professional services over the internet, or makes arrangements for the supply of such products or provision of such services over the internet."
When providing Internet services, pharmacists must always have the patient's best interests as their primary concern whether supplying medicines or providing advice/information, and must ensure high standards of professional service and pharmacists accountability. Professionals at these pharmacies should obtain all relevant information to assess the patient's needs and ensure that the patient knows how to use the medication that is supplied safely, effectively and appropriately. They should ensure security and confidentiality of patient information and should also comply with all quality standards.
Co-operation and close working between health professionals is encouraged, however patients must be free to choose where and how they obtain their pharmaceutical services. Pharmacists should not participate in any agreement with a person who prescribes a particular pharmaceutical product, thus limiting their choice. Caution should be exercised where patients have multiple health problems or chronic conditions. Additionally, patients and their close ones must have the opportunity to discuss any queries they may have about either the medication supplied or the condition being treated. Where a patient's best interest may warrant face-to-face consultation, the patient or their family members should be advised accordingly.
When selling or supplying non-prescription medicines via the Internet, pharmacists are required to establish whether the intended user is the person requesting the product. They should also assess the suitability of the product for the intended user and provide appropriate counseling regarding the drugs they seek. As it is not possible to make a visual assessment of the patient, it is important to bear in mind that patients can more easily provide false information when obtaining medicines on-line. Supplies should not proceed where there are grounds to doubt the authenticity of the information the patient provides, or the identity of the patient in question. Last but not the least, no Internet pharmacy should promote particular products by way of personal endorsement.
Safeguarding consumers and ensuring the quality of web sites that sell medicines across state and national boundaries is both complex and difficult.
Additional information:
Find, Information For, Specialties, Offices. Washington University Medical Center. Washington University.
Related "Medicine":
- Philips-On the Royal Road to King of Medical Equipment
So, has Philips arrived at the royal industry cas ... - Prescription Acne Medicine
Other effective creams or gels include azelaic aci ... - Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (Season 2) DVD Review
When she arrives, the town is taken aback, having ... - Experience Aromatherapy
Due to their high concentration levels, aromatic e ... - Allergies, Cures Exist But
We have already mentioned the importance of the fo ...
Rating: Not yet rated (votes: 0)
