The concept of shopping online has gained popularity over the years. The best part is that you can buy anything from any country with just a click of a mouse and have delivered to your door step. Online stores have become very popular, as they offer items at discounted prices and items which may not even be available at nearby stores. The concept of online shopping has spread to online pharmacies too. People are turning more and more to online pharmacies to save costs on highly expensive drugs.

An online pharmacy has both advantages and disadvantages. Studies have been conducted which prove that many online pharmacies are not licensed and in some cases even illegitimate. Some even sell drugs without prescription or banned drugs, prescribe medicines or sell medicines with false claims. Some online pharmacies do not have their own pharmacies but take orders on behalf of other pharmacies. Some provide medicines only on valid prescription from a doctor and some give medicine without a prescription, which is considered illegal by many governments. In some cases, patients can fill out a form of symptoms experienced and doctors attached to the online pharmacy decide whether to prescribe medicine online. Country and location mentioned should be ascertained, as the online pharmacy may not physically exist where it claims to be. Some countries have strict cross-border medicine supply rules while others may be relaxed. Online pharmacies in the US can get certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Team and then display a VIPPS seal. Customers should click the seal and make sure that the certification is authentic and not just displayed to fool people. There are other certification organizations too. Before ordering and submitting credit card information, it is wise to check terms and conditions on privacy policy, refunds, and extra charges and so on. On arrival of medicines, it is good idea to check the date of expiry, seal, packaging and storage instructions like refrigeration etc.

Though the comfort and money saving option of online pharmacies is great, risks and health hazards are high. The reach of the Internet is very wide and such websites can appear and disappear anytime without any clue. However, there are many authentic pharmacies and consumers need to be very aware and clever about how to avoid spurious ones. Governments and pharmacies are striving hard to control the whole process but it is the utmost duty of consumers to be aware.