1. How can I protect myself from “questionable” pharmacy Internet websites?
Make sure the site is operated by an accredited Ontario pharmacy and overseen by licensed pharmacists.
In Ontario, all Internet “pharmacy” or “drugstore” websites must be operated by a “bricks and mortar” pharmacy. The site must display:
- The identity of the pharmacy to which the website belongs
- The pharmacy’s OCP Accreditation number (Certificate to operate)
- The name of the owner
- The physical location of the pharmacy including the address (street, town/city)
- The telephone number to contact the pharmacy
- The Designated Manager of the pharmacy
- The hours that a licensed pharmacist is available (the pharmacy cannot dispense medications when a pharmacist is not on duty)
- All Ontario sites must also display the Point of Care and OCP Accreditation links (shown at right). You can retrieve the OCP Accreditation number of the pharmacy from the site and call the Ontario College of Pharmacists
at 1-800-220-1921 to verify its legitimacy.
A list of the complete rules are provided at the end of this document.
2. What types of websites should I avoid using?
The Ontario College of Pharmacists advises you to:
- Avoid websites that offer to prescribe medications to you without you having a proper assessment by your physician
- Avoid websites that offer to sell you prescription drugs without a valid prescription or to sell you drugs that are not approved for sale in Canada
- Avoid websites where the pharmacist cannot be directly identified, contacted, or verified
- Avoid websites that provide only a post office box address or can only be reached through a phone number that is answered by a customer service representative
- Avoid websites that only ask for a list or copy of your prescriptions, and a list of symptoms, without valid new prescriptions. If they require a letter from your physician, ensure your physician can contact the physician that is requesting this information
3. How do I verify websites operated by pharmacies from other provinces?
The rules for operating an Internet pharmacy may vary in other provinces so we encourage you to contact the local college of pharmacists directly for verification. A list of phone numbers is listed here.
4. Can the pharmacist fill a prescription that was written by a U.S. doctor?
No. Ontario pharmacists can only fill and counsel for prescriptions authorized or signed by a licensed Ontario prescriber (i.e. physician, dentist, etc.)
5. Can the pharmacist fill a prescription for me that was faxed from other than my doctor’s office?
No. Ontario pharmacists cannot release a prescription to a patient until he/she has received the original prescription.
6. How do I verify websites operated out of the United States?
7. What can I do if I am unhappy with the care and service that I have received from an Internet pharmacy?
If you have questions or concerns about the care you have received, we encourage you to first raise your comments with the pharmacist. If that is not possible or sufficient we encourage you to talk to the pharmacy’s designated manager or owner. Otherwise you can call the Ontario College of Pharmacists directly at 1-800-220-1921. For further advice about the complaints process, click here.
Rules for Operating an Internet Site
The technical guidelines for pharmacists seeking to operate a site are on the www.ocpinfo.com website here.
The Ontario College of Pharmacists regulates and licenses pharmacists and pharmacies in Ontario and has provided guidelines and policies for licensed pharmacies in Ontario who wish to operate on the Internet.
Currently in Ontario, a pharmacy website cannot exist on it’s own, i.e. a “virtual” or “online” “pharmacy” or “drugstore” site must not be operated without it first being part of an actual accredited pharmacy that is operated by a licensed pharmacist.
The websites of pharmacies wishing to operate on the Internet must conform to the same legislative requirements and College policies that apply to all other pharmacies. This means:
- A pharmacist must be available to every patient for consultation
- A pharmacist must be available for the sale of specified drug products such as prescriptions
- A pharmacist must provide counselling to the patient on all new prescriptions
- A pharmacist must comply with the College’s Standards of Practice
- Receiving and sending of prescriptions must be in compliance with all federal and provincial legislation and the Standards of Practice. A pharmacists must have a valid prescription authorized or signed or by a physician licensed to practice in Ontario. Prescribers from out of the country are not recognized as prescribers in Ontario. If a prescription is faxed from other than the doctor’s office, the pharmacy cannot release that prescription until the original is received.
- The pharmacy must be accredited (licensed) to operate in Ontario and a pharmacist must be available while the pharmacy is open.
- All Ontario sites must also display the Point of Care and OCP Accreditation links (shown below). You can retrieve the OCP Accreditation number of the pharmacy from the site and call the Ontario College of Pharmacists at 1-800-220-1921 to verify its legitimacy
The homepage of any pharmacy Internet site must:
- Identify the pharmacy to which the website belongs
- The pharmacy’s Accreditation number (Certificate to operate)
- The name of the owner
- The physical location of the pharmacy including the address (city and town)
- The telephone number to contact the pharmacy
- The Designated Manager of the pharmacy
- The hours that a licensed pharmacist is available
May 2002
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