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ONLINE PHARMACY - A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE

by Daniels Charles

The online pharmacy has generated intense debate in recent years. Thanks to the indifference shown by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against the online pharmacy business, the drug manufacturers have taken a sigh of relief.

Actually, the online pharmacies generated adverse publicity when they started selling prescription drugs online. To satisfy the FDA guidelines, they even offer the facility of online prescriptions. However, the FDA decided otherwise. It could not fathom as to how these online pharmacies could provide online prescription without actually physically examining the patient. The result. The online pharmacies are barred from operating in and from the US soil.

The online pharmacies got the major boost with the advent of ED pills like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. These pills got overnight hype and the demand for such pills shot instantly. The online pharmacies filled the void for global customers. As the initial supply was not proportionate to the demand of drugs, the sales of online drugs surged. The online pharmacies mushroomed with the pharma-boon.

The increased health awareness and the convenient availability of drugs made online pharmacies a haven for illicit drug trade. A few scrupulous pharmacies erupt in cyberspace that offered counterfeit drugs in the garb of genuine ones at drastically reduced price. Known as discount drugs, these drugs literally toyed with the health of hapless consumers.

But not all online pharmacies are a sham. Some of the genuine ones offer cheap drugs solely due to reduced cost to them since this is virtually a no-investment business. The convenience of availability at the doorsteps made these pharmacies an instant hit. The online pharmacies are a welcome relief for the disabled who find it hard to move out of their place for the nearest pharmacy. Another major plus of online pharmacies is the instant knowledge about availability of drugs.