| Do Online Chemists sell Prescription Drugs? |
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Online pharmacies, also known as online chemists (Apothekenversand) and Internet pharmacies, are chemists that operate over the Internet. However, due to the distant nature of Internet transactions, there are a number of differences between local pharmacies and online pharmacies. Internet chemists sell a large range of products, with most product categories found in regular chemist shops also stocked online. Internet chemists also sell prescription drugs, although the way that this takes place is dependent on the locality of the user.
For example, in some jurisdictions, consumers are required to provide online chemists with a pre-written prescription, while other places are able to supply drugs without a prescription. There is also another possible scenario, where online chemists write prescriptions for their customers themselves, so that customers can avoid the inconvenience and cost of visiting a doctor in person. Online chemists are a relatively new phenomenon, although they are quickly gaining ground against traditional pharmacies. In many cases, Internet pharmacies are able to offer similar products at a lower cost, due to less overheads and alternate distribution channels. However, some drugs and medications are not available from online chemists, either with a prescription of without. Much of the confusion that surrounds the online pharmacy industry exists because of the global nature of the Internet. There are different laws and regulations in every country, with some states and jurisdictions also having independent laws that further complicate matters. However, there is also the strong legal and illegal trade of drugs on the international market, with some countries having much more stringent regulations about the online sale of prescription drugs that others. Online chemists operate all over the world, so it is possible to purchase prescription drugs on both the domestic and international markets. There are a number of Internet pharmacies that operate from Asian nations like India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, where regulations regarding the sale of drugs is either non-existent or not enforced. Some of these pharmacies require that customers have prescriptions, while others do not. Many of the online pharmacies that do not require a prescription ask customers to fill out a health questionnaire with their order, although again, this situation differs between countries and retailers. |