How to Protect Consumers against the Risks Posed by the Online Pharmacy Market?
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Abstract
Background: Even though the services provided by online pharmacies are convenient and their product pricing can be more attractive than at a pharmacy store, the regulation of online pharmacies is still in development and evolving. Several problems have been identified, related to the upcoming online pharmacy business. Main issues are that the number of falsified medications on the market increases and continues to increase due to the possibility of ordering medication online from all over the world. Another issue is the lack of control in ensuring whether the websites hosting online pharmacies are real, licensed pharmacies or that they are deceptive pharmacies.
Regulation of the online pharmacy market is minimal. Attempts have been made to provide a framework but neither well-established hard law nor soft law exists in order to protect the consumer and the regular market from the risks posed by the online pharmacies.
Objective: The objective of this research is to analyze how the online pharmacy market can be regulated in order to protect the consumer against the risks of ordering medication online. The question to be answered is thus: How should the online pharmacy market be regulated in order to diminish to the fullest extent possible the risks faced by consumers when ordering medication online?
Methods: In order to answer the research question, the risks of online pharmacies will be identified first. Then, a comparative analysis of existing and evolving law in several (western) states will be conducted. In addition, other initiatives, such as certification and accreditation methods will be analyzed. After having set out the advantages and disadvantages of the hard and soft law approaches, recommendations will be given how to proceed with regulating the online pharmacy market in order to diminish to the fullest extent possible the risks faced by consumers when ordering medication online.
Results: Research in progress.
Conclusion: Research in progress. As for now, the expected outcome of the research will be that a combination of hard and soft law will be the most profitable one. State regulation should provide a clear legal framework imposing the legal boundaries, while verification mechanisms should provide assistance and give guidance to the online pharmacies in their quest for a reliable, trustworthy market share. In addition, it is of importance to harmonize the approach between states towards the regulation of online pharmacies as much as possible in order to provide a common framework for everyone, diminishing the issues arising from cross-border trade. Taking into account hard and soft law, good practice and ethical principles will improve the reliability of online pharmacies, diminishing the risks consumers run when they order medication online. Notwithstanding the legal and ethical framework in place or in development, it does remain of utmost importance to raise awareness and to have consumers informing themselves about the possible risks related to ordering medication online.
Regulation of the online pharmacy market is minimal. Attempts have been made to provide a framework but neither well-established hard law nor soft law exists in order to protect the consumer and the regular market from the risks posed by the online pharmacies.
Objective: The objective of this research is to analyze how the online pharmacy market can be regulated in order to protect the consumer against the risks of ordering medication online. The question to be answered is thus: How should the online pharmacy market be regulated in order to diminish to the fullest extent possible the risks faced by consumers when ordering medication online?
Methods: In order to answer the research question, the risks of online pharmacies will be identified first. Then, a comparative analysis of existing and evolving law in several (western) states will be conducted. In addition, other initiatives, such as certification and accreditation methods will be analyzed. After having set out the advantages and disadvantages of the hard and soft law approaches, recommendations will be given how to proceed with regulating the online pharmacy market in order to diminish to the fullest extent possible the risks faced by consumers when ordering medication online.
Results: Research in progress.
Conclusion: Research in progress. As for now, the expected outcome of the research will be that a combination of hard and soft law will be the most profitable one. State regulation should provide a clear legal framework imposing the legal boundaries, while verification mechanisms should provide assistance and give guidance to the online pharmacies in their quest for a reliable, trustworthy market share. In addition, it is of importance to harmonize the approach between states towards the regulation of online pharmacies as much as possible in order to provide a common framework for everyone, diminishing the issues arising from cross-border trade. Taking into account hard and soft law, good practice and ethical principles will improve the reliability of online pharmacies, diminishing the risks consumers run when they order medication online. Notwithstanding the legal and ethical framework in place or in development, it does remain of utmost importance to raise awareness and to have consumers informing themselves about the possible risks related to ordering medication online.
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