The Digital era has many perks, and digitalization is surely one of them, and today, no matter the issue or problem, we can fill a form and settle everything online. With the last year as it was, you probably also lived under new conditions, as going out and socializing was reduced to a minimum.
All of that only made online shopping common, as even the most inconsequential item we can find and order online. Knowing this, it’s no wonder that many people also find it much suitable to fill prescriptions via online pharmacies.
The prices and overall costs of pharmaceutical items rapidly increased, which is yet another reason why their online versions have much more customers than just a year ago. As for safety, you can never be too cautious when online, especially when there is a need to leave certain personal information, and the same goes with online drugstores.
That is why even though there are plenty of them you can easily find online, you should always look for already established brands, like Oxford Online Pharmacy.
Finding the most reliable online pharmacy doesn’t have to cause a headache, it should treat it, and it’s good to know that there are certain things to ask and look for before taking any action, just to be safe.
Check if they are asking for a prescription
Getting distracted by some great offers is what troubles so many, as they are not worried when the online pharmacy is not requiring the doctor’s prescription, but it is an alarm sign.
In most cases, it can be a sign that the pharmacy is not legal and that they are not working by government rules. A much worse scenario is if they offer a doctor who will prescribe the certain medicine without any consultation and examination.
It is better to avoid pharmacies like this because of your own safety and choose the reliable one which will require the doctor’s prescription. It is important to be sure that the whole business is legitimate and avoid buying some medications that you actually don’t need.
Avoid too low prices
It is okay to create some promotions to attract new customers, but if a pharmacy offers some expensive medicine at a much lower price and with free delivery, then in 9 out of 10 cases, it is an alarm sign, and the warning that probably something is not right.
Low prices, discounts, or/and free delivery are perfectly fine, but if the offer looks too good to be true, then it’s much likely that it is all a hoax. The price of medicines cannot differ a lot around the country because they are all regulated by the same state laws, which means that if the price differs a lot, the medicine is probably false.
Not only will you lose your money, but the product can actually be pretty dangerous for your health, so it is crucial to make sure that the pharmacy is trustworthy before ordering any of their products. Take NHS as an example, as their units can often offer treatment at a lower cost than other private hospitals, even though they are an already established brand.
Call them
Even online pharmacies need to have a pharmacist whose role is to help people by providing advice and answers to their questions. They need to be state-licensed and available to the customers when someone needs help.
That’s another aspect to cover, and it gives you the chance to call the store if there is any doubt that it is not reliable enough and just ask to speak with their pharmacist. Keep in mind that even these stores sometimes have operating time, and try to call them during business hours.
Once you get in touch with them, you will see how helpful they are, or on the other side, if no one answers, it is better to continue searching for a new one. Talk to them and ask whatever you want to know about the medicine and also the business because it is one of the best ways to make sure that everything is legal.
Check physical address
Although this is a basic one, it is still what many often overlook, but you should know that every store can operate online, but it needs to have a valid physical address because every customer needs to be sure that the store actually exists before ordering.
The same thing is with online drugstores, which is why it is necessary to check the address and make sure that the street and building match and that they really exist.
There are many cases when the store states the address of some non-existent building and after they do enough scams, they simply “relocate” and continue with their frauds. Make sure you do not fall for this and that the business really is listed on the address mentioned on the website. Visit it personally would clear all things up if possible.
Check pharmacy register
If you don’t feel comfortable or don’t have time to go and check their physical address, there is a much faster solution. Namely, everything you may need for this endeavour is to type the company name and check whether it is listed in the specified register.
This will speed up the whole process and help you in so many ways, and if you come across some pharmacy that is not listed here, make sure to help others and file a complaint.
The bottom line
All things mentioned above should give you a much better insight into how to find a reliable online pharmacy. Remember, the first thing to check is whether they have clearly stated that they are registered with the GPhC, and only after that, start crossing the things we mentioned above.
Since there was a lot of noise regarding the vaccine for COVID-19, you are probably familiar with some renowned pharmaceutical companies like Roche, and some may consider them as a safe bet, but there are plenty of pharmacies that you can find online, which is where this advice will come more than handy.
