Having a personal relationship with a physician is becoming a thing of the past. Thanks to the convenience of the online world, people are gaining the ability to seek care from professional doctors, specialists, and dentists, without ever having to leave the comfort of their home.
While this trend has been spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has in fact been in motion for some time. As more people turn to the online pharmacies, they are seeking answers to their medical questions. Some of these questions can be answered with a prescription, and the internet has made it possible to find and fill those prescriptions from the convenience of home.
Will your medication work for me? Can I get a prescription drug at an online pharmacy? How can I find the best prices? These are all questions that people are asking themselves, and they’re finding the answers they’re looking for online. Let’s take a look at how.
The Rise Of Online Pharmacies
To understand the rise of online pharmacies, we first have to go back in time. During the last two weeks of March 2020, more than 11 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits. That means more than a third of the country was out of work and looking for ways to make ends meet. For those who could work from home, it was a golden opportunity to become a freelance medical provider. As the world learned to function with less physical interaction, doctors and healthcare workers were in high demand. Those who had access to the internet could quickly set up shop and begin offering remote healthcare services to those who needed them. Most notably, this included the dispensing of prescriptions. As unemployment soared, so did the demand for online pharmacies that could fill prescriptions. In one week, up to a million prescriptions were being bought online. That’s at least 20 prescriptions per minute. In some cases, people were ordering multiple prescriptions at a time.
The Growth Of Online Pharmacies
After witnessing the massive demand and interest in online pharmacies during the last two weeks of March, it’s safe to say the trend would not go unnoticed by pharmaceutical companies. To meet the demand for their therapies, many began to offer their medications online. For instance, on April 7, 2020, Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) offered Epogen, a medication used to treat anemia, for sale at a discounted rate of $125 per month. That’s half the recommended retail price of $250 per month. With so many people seeking relief from the financial toll of the pandemic, that price was more than acceptable. Furthermore, Amgen noted that they were able to negotiate a lower rate since it was during a time of the year when their products are typically discounted. That was just one of many examples of pharmaceutical companies taking advantage of the pandemic and offering steep discounts on their products.
Why Now?
In one word – COVID-19. No question about it – the pandemic spurred the rise of online pharmacies. Those who were unable to get their hands on medical supplies and equipment during the pandemic turned to online pharmacies. Likewise, online pharmacies saw their opportunity during the pandemic to gain much needed revenue and increase their customer base. Some companies even made it possible for customers to get their prescriptions filled online on the same day. While the ability to get a prescription filled online does present some conveniences, it also comes with some disadvantages. For example, since the internet is a place that is always accessible, people may be tempted to look for solutions to their medical problems online instead of seeking out a professional.
Safety
One of the chief concerns about getting a prescription filled online is safety. Unfortunately, not all pharmacies that sell prescription drugs are safe or secure. Many are completely unregulated, and there is no government oversight or compliance program in place to make sure that they are following proper safety and security procedures. For a lot of people, especially during this pandemic, they are not comfortable seeking out medication online, especially when they’re not sure of the identity of the company they’re purchasing the drugs from. A secure and safe environment is essential if people are going to be ordering medication online. Those who do so should certainly feel confident that their personal information will be kept private and safe.
Convenience
Another important consideration when people are choosing to get their prescriptions filled online is convenience. Since many online pharmacies are based in countries where a lot of the medications they sell are produced, the turnaround time for orders can be extremely quick. Customers may want to consider whether or not this is important to them. A lot of medications have a short shelf life, and due to the instability of the global market, it’s always a gamble as to how quickly or affordably they will be able to fill your prescription. Additionally, since a lot of the medications sold online are generic versions of the ones produced by pharmaceutical companies, there is the option to save a lot of money without risking exposure to certain risks. However, not all generics are created equal, and since they’re often much cheaper than their branded counterparts, it’s also important to be aware of the risks that come with generic medications.
While all of these are important considerations for people who are choosing an online pharmacy, the most crucial factor is simply finding one that you feel comfortable and confident will provide you with quality medication, at a price that is agreeable to you. By doing some due diligence and being mindful of the risks, you can find an online pharmacy that offers what you’re looking for and avoids all the pitfalls. All you need is the will to ensure you get quality medication at a price that you can afford.