Online shopping is becoming more and more popular, for a couple of reasons, the dominant one being everything that happened with the pandemic. Most of the goods we are used to having at our disposal are no longer available in our countries, but thanks to the internet and open market, whatever you need is available for buying online. And the things we buy are primarily ordered from abroad.
Although very convenient, online shopping for medications should be taken seriously. It has its conveniences, but also drawbacks. For this very reason, we have selected the main pros and cons of ordering medications online.
Pros
1. It’s a timesaver
The first and most important reason for ordering medications online is certainly saving time. Unlike browsing and shopping in real-time pharmacies, online ones allow us to buy in just a few clicks. Thus, we make the necessary purchases in a faster and simpler way, without wasting too much time.
Also, when ordering online, customers do not have to worry about working hours, since online stores are open all day.
2. Comparing prices
Online shopping also allows us to compare the prices of the same medication. When we are shopping, we often do not have the opportunity to compare prices from pharmacy to pharmacy. On the Internet, things are much simpler. With online pharmacies, we have the opportunity to see how much something costs and thus decide on the most affordable option, that is, the product.
Before ordering, the customer has the opportunity to compare prices on the Internet, and significantly save money and time.
3. Simpler purchase process
It’s a good thing that many online pharmacies have made it possible to make purchases through various smartphone apps, making online shopping even easier. You can choose from visiting for example https://canadianpharmacyonline.com/ via computer, or installing an app so you can browse and buy on the go.
4. Faster delivery
Vitamins and supplements are the products that consumers most often buy in pharmacies, but also other preparations are increasingly ordered in online pharmacies or directly from the manufacturer. The advantage of buying medications online is that the customer has the option of getting the product delivered to their home address at much more favorable prices.
Medications ordered online are delivered directly to the customer’s home address. Delivery when purchasing several preparations in some cases is free, and at times the buyer pays cash on delivery upon collection of the goods, i.e. when he checks what has arrived.
5. All information in one place
Information about medications, as well as about the active ingredients they contain, is all found in one place. Therefore, it is much easier to choose the one you need or to learn more about the product recommended by doctors or pharmacists.
Cons
Source: goodrx.com
1. Some pharmacies are unlicensed
A rising risk is that the one pharmacy you choose to buy from has no license. The whole purchase results in one buying a medication that hasn’t gone through the control, carrying a huge risk to one’s health. This is why one should pay attention to buying only in licensed pharmacies.
2. Buying a wrong medicine
A lot of people today like to avoid going to the doctors, and google their way toward diagnosis. Skipping getting a doctor’s check, and guessing your own diagnosis results in getting a wrong picture of what is wrong. Even worse, you search for the therapy yourself, and end up buying the wrong medication online.
Source: mattlaw.com
3. Delayed delivery
There are times when you really need your medications ASAP. But the delivery lasts for days, especially if you’ve ordered from abroad. That is why you should always read the delivery times when purchasing medications this way.
4. Violating your privacy
Buying medications online involves giving up many personal details. Online pharmacies may share this information with third parties.
5. Risking your financial information
Financial information for payments may not be secure and may lead to online fraud. Online pharmacies that don’t spend much on strict privacy policies are easy targets for hackers.
So, if you want to make a safe purchase, make sure you follow the advice we wrote below.
- Check for which indications a particular medication is recommended.
- Sensitivity or allergies – it is very important for manufacturers to state a warning and note whether the preparation can be used by sensitive groups of the population, as well as to emphasize which medicines or health conditions the preparations must not be used with.
- The composition of each medication must be precisely stated.
- During delivery, check whether there is a printed (not additionally pasted) decision number on the product box by which the Ministry of Health or some other authorized institution approved the product.
- On the website from which you order, it is also important that all the information is listed in the same way as on the product packaging. It is best to order directly from the manufacturer or from a pharmacy that is registered as an online pharmacy.
Also check other information about the manufacturer, such as contact information, whether the brand is present on the market, and the quality of information about the product. Do not order medications from resellers who market the goods through dubious profiles on social networks, or advertise them on websites with advertisements for consumer goods.
A safe pharmacy should be designed to provide the client with all the necessary information about the product they want to order before ordering.
On the product page, the description is listed first. It explains the application of the active substances of the specific product, as well as the benefits of those substances or natural extracts. Indications are clearly stated, i.e. which problems the product helps with. The method of use is also precisely defined.
The complete formulation is also listed in the product composition table. Here, the customer receives information from which natural extracts the product is made.
Finally, keep in mind that your health is at stake. It’s in your best interest to buy from safe sellers.
