(Newswire.net — October 1, 2020) —
The internet has created an inexpensive way for patients and healthcare practitioners to connect. Solutions such as telehealth have eliminated geographic barriers as patients can interact with doctors online. Another integral development in healthcare is online pharmacies.
Online pharmacies are companies that provide pharmaceutical preparations, including prescription-only drugs online. Thanks to online pharmacies, customers don’t have to visit a local pharmacy to purchase drugs. They can place an order and have the drugs delivered to their doorstep. They are here and they are growing rapidly and due to the pandemic, they’ve awakened people to a new way of getting their prescription medications.
The Growth of Online Pharmacies
The online pharmacy market is projected to reach USD 117,794.9 million by 2026. This market is expected to expand because of an ever-growing demand online for medical prescriptions. The increasing penetration of ecommerce and the internet have also contributed to the trend. People are much more comfortable making online transactions. Combined this with savings on prescriptions, it’s no wonder online pharmacies are proliferating.
Online pharmacies are efficient compared to local pharmacies as they provide low-cost medical products delivered at one’s doorstep. Online pharmacies save you money because they provide medicines at discounted rates, unlike the traditional brick and mortar pharmacy stores. Patients also enjoy greater anonymity in an online pharmacy than a physical store. If you are purchasing drugs for a chronic condition or simply don’t want to make the trip to the pharmacy, you can now opt to make the purchase online from your smartphone.
Critics of online pharmacies say that many smaller mom-and-pop pharmacies will end up closing due to the expansion of online pharmacies. This is one downside of the benefit patients are seeing due to getting medications online. However, we believe there is still room for them as patients demand convenience.
Aside from greater anonymity for the patient, pharmacies have greater access, lower transaction, and production costs. People who frequently use online pharmacies also cite greater convenience, especially if you are physically disabled or have limited mobility. In addition, online pharmaceuticals have media alerts or personalized medicine reminder services that help patients keep track of their licensed prescription. Technology has improved the overall experience in addition to lower prices.
But the growth of online pharmacies has some issues. For starters, some sites allow people to order medication without a prescription. What’s worse is that some of these sites have online doctors who would take a questionable and limited time to evaluate patients online through questionnaires and dispense medication. Counterfeit drugs have also become an issue with pharmacies as it is difficult for patients to determine whether the drugs they are purchasing are original or counterfeit. Legitscript a certification service has played a vital role in verifying the authenticity and licenses of online pharmacies.
Reputable online pharmacies have significant advantages. Patients get 24/7 access to pharmaceutical services. Selection is usually wide and sometimes coupled with concierge style time doctors. The privacy offered by online platforms allows patients to ask questions they may be embarrassed to ask their pharmacist in-person.
How do you verify that an online pharmacy is legit?
Before you purchase your medication online, you need to find out whether that organization is properly licensed. Organizations such as the U.S FDA (Food and Drug Association), PharmacyChecker, and the NABP (National Association Board of Pharmacy) are organizations that evaluate pharmacies to determine whether their services are legitimate.
How do you choose an online pharmacy?
JOY MD helps patients find legal online pharmacies and offers other services in addition to prescription medications such as telehealth services for primary care, mental health and other services.
Founder Henry Camacho has prioritized the inclusion of quality and trusted online pharmacies in his platform’s development, as more patients seek online medication services. Through JOY MD patients can easily search for legitimate telehealth services and online pharmacies.