There are a number of online
pharmacies, with a medical
affiliation is that take great pain
to differentiate themselves from
unlicensed overseas pharmacies.
These pharmacies, stress that they
are "American based companies that
provides consumer's easy access to
FDA approved online prescriptions
over the Internet and are quick to
point out that "An online
consultation can be just as relevant
as an in-person consultation." It is
interesting to note that many of
these online pharmacies also point
out that "While they are committed
to making access to online
prescriptions easier, they believe
that the Internet can not replace
the importance of regular doctor
visits to fully evaluate your health
and any medical conditions." Many of
these online pharmacy sites, such as
www.xl-pharmacy.com also
makes a wealth of drug information
available on its web site that
enables the consumer to educate
themselves on drugs that may have
been prescribed. The Internet has
for all intensive purposes is
quickly replacing the brick and
mortar base physician as a patient's
primary health care provider.
A sales pitch, of course, or is
it? Most of the legitimate online
pharmacies ensure that they comply
with state and federal regulation.
The doctors are licensed in all 50
states and their pharmacies are too.
These legitimate Internet pharmacies
cater to those that are looking for
a better price; for some it comes
down to making the choice of eating
cat food on crackers in order to
afford their medications because of
the high US drug prices. In other
cases patients resort to
cyber-medicine to avoid the
embarrassment of having to deal with
a physician or pharmacy that may be
judgmental. Many of these online
pharmacies, such as
www.xl-pharmacy.com/ will arrange a consult
with a licensed, medical doctor over
the phone and will then fill the
prescription accordingly.
According to Henkel (2000) "More
and more consumers are using the
Internet for health reasons" and
references a study carried out by a
market research firm Cyber Dialogue
Inc., "that found that "health
concerns are the sixth most common
reason people go online" (Henkel
2000).
For many people a trip to the
pharmacy is an ordeal. In some cases
the local pharmacy may also be
located in the closest town which
may mean a long drive if one lives
in a rural community. Online
pharmacies provide a means through
which their prescriptions can be
delivered conveniently and quickly.
Being online also allows the
consumer to shop for the best
prices, an important factor if one
is living on a pension.
The Internet has also created a
more aware user. It is not unusual
for a consumer to research drugs on
the Internet. A consumer may have
seen a TV or magazine advertisement
advertising a new drug. Ultimately,
the Internet also provides the
consumer the opportunity to enter
into a doctor patient relationship
that may in fact be more legitimate
than the doctor who makes a physical
appearance.
It is interesting to note, as
discussed previously, that consumers
are becoming dissatisfied with the
care and treatment they receive from
both brick and mortar physicians and
pharmacies. Zanf (2001), references
a study by Lang and Fullerton that
"Identified four factors related to
outpatient pharmacy services:
professional communication, physical
and emotional comfort, demographics,
and location and convenience." All
of which are contributing factors as
to why more and more consumers are
resorting to cyber-medicine at
pharmacies such as
www.xl-pharmacy.com
