Patients who choose to access pharmacy services over the internet should take extra care to ensure the pharmacy providing the online services is legitimate.
In Ontario, all legitimate pharmacy or drugstore websites must be operated by a real “bricks-and-mortar” pharmacy located within the province. Patients should use the Find a Pharmacy or Pharmacy Professional tool to make sure the pharmacy is in Ontario, has been accredited by the College and is overseen by registered pharmacists.
Patients should also check that the homepage of the pharmacy displays the:
- Name of the “bricks-and-mortar” pharmacy that runs the website
- Pharmacy’s accreditation number (double check with our Find a Pharmacy or Pharmacy Professional tool)
- Name of the pharmacy’s owner
- Full address of the “bricks-and-mortar” pharmacy
- Phone number for the pharmacy
- Name of the pharmacy’s Designated Manager
- Hours when a registered pharmacist is available (the pharmacy cannot dispense medications when a pharmacist is not on duty)
- The Point of Care Symbol