In the aftermath of COVID-19, retail pharmacies have been reimagining themselves to meet consumer needs and drive revenue growth. Some are pursuing strategies that reinforce their natural benefits—speed and convenience—for the lower-touch demographic that typically makes up their target market. Others, including mail-order and online pharmacies, are working to bridge some of the gaps in the consumer experience by providing services beyond prescription dispensing.
Consumers welcome the convenience of e-pharmacy services, but not without some concern about safety and costs. For example, some illegal sites are selling counterfeit or expired drugs or diverted packages containing medications that could potentially harm patients and cause other health problems. In response, regulatory agencies are stepping up enforcement and professional organizations are developing programs to improve transparency and quality in the online drug marketplace.
Many consumers also have concerns about the potential for their private medical and financial information to be misused or stolen. This is especially true for mail-order and online pharmacies that sell their medications directly to consumers. These companies are not regulated like traditional pharmacies and are not required to comply with state and federal privacy and security rules, so they can make it difficult for consumers to know whether they are working with reputable sites.
To minimize these risks, shoppers should check out the website of the pharmacy before buying medications online. They should look for a URL that begins with “https” and a padlock symbol, as well as a privacy policy explaining how their personal information will be used. Consumers can also check out the FDA’s BeSafeRx page for tips and resources to help them make safe and informed decisions when purchasing medicines online.https://pharmalabglobal.com/product-category/tb500/