Compared to Canada and other countries, brand-name medications are comparatively expensive in the US. Being Canada is a U.S. neighbor, Americans prefer to buy drugs from pharmacies in Canada. It is recommended to understand the legal and security measures before buying prescription medications.
Why are drugs cost-effective in Canada?
Canada has national and universal health care, as well as many other countries. This may be a reason why the government can negotiate prices to keep drug costs less.
On the opposite, there is no influence over the cost of drugs sold in the US. The producers, however, pass on the costs of research, production, and advertisement to customers.
The company is able to allocate the price range according to its needs. By purchasing the generic drug, the user sees benefits. As a result of trade, the prices are low and less costly than those of foreign manufacturers.
Canadian drugs may be costly at times:
Buying medicines from a Canadian pharmacy online can sometimes prove to be expensive including shipping charges. The drugs are quoted in Canadian dollars instead of American dollars and may fluctuate every day.
Is it legal to purchase medications from an online pharmacy?
Importing prescription drugs in the US is known to be illegal unless you are the manufacturer according to US law. A law has been established to protect consumers that restrict consumers to bring medications to the U.S. if they have bought them from other countries.
Is it legitimate?
By U.S. law, unless you are the manufacturer, it is not legal to import prescription drugs into the country. It also includes medications manufactured and exported to other nations in the United States. You are not allowed to buy them from that country and bring them back to the U.S. These laws have been established to protect consumers.
A regulatory body from the United States circulated regulations for the consumers. The law allowed a 3-month supply of prescription medicines or medical devices to be imported if they met such conditions:
- If there is no treatment available in the United States and the medications needed have to treat a serious condition.
- The drugs must not be sold or promoted under any conditions in the United States.
- It is not supposed to have an unreasonable risk.
- A declaration that it is for private use must be given to the station.
- The number of medications must not exceed a 3 month supply and must include the approved U.S. doctor’s information. He will be in charge of the care and must show evidence of continued treatment in a foreign country.
Safety Precautions:
While buying foreign drugs, there are certain safety measures to be followed: the online pharmacies should be approved by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) and the Pharmacy Checker. They must follow the regulations formulated by them.
As CIPA ensures that quality medicines are sold at an affordable price, it is possible to trust online pharmacies listed on their website as they comply with CIPA regulations.
Pharmacy Checker verifies that drugs are sent by a licensed Canadian practitioner to the online pharmacies listed under them.
When buying medications from the online pharmacy from abroad
The National Association of Pharmacy Boards may not be aware of any Canadian pharmacies that provide approved drugs to U.S. customers from Health Canada. Safe online pharmacy becomes difficult to be found even if one follows the general guidelines for buying safe medicines.
One must be cautious about the guidelines requested and required by regulatory bodies.
There are the websites that you may check to find secured online pharmacies:
- VIPPS, Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site.
- Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA)
- Pharmacy Checker
Things to Check Before You buy medications from Canada
As long as one follows the parameters set by regulatory bodies, it becomes necessary to be aware of the illegal regulations. It is necessary to avoid purchasing drugs from street vendors.
Keep the prescription of the doctor in hand as you give the Canadian pharmacist a copy. It is also recommended to carry an extra copy to show it to the customs of the United States.
It is advised that CIPA and Pharmacy Checker authorize the online pharmacy. The certified online pharmacies are checked, licensed, and trusted to buy medicines. The pharmacy listed under these organizations can be found on CIPA and Pharmacy Checker’s official website.
Good Health 