Since March 1, 2013, nearly 3,500 drug specialties can be sold without a prescription. So, for example, whether it's a cold, an allergy, a sore throat, heartburn or mild pain, no less than 10,000 non-prescription drugs are available on certain sites of major pharmacies, such as Pharma GDD , the first French pharmacy approved by the ARS and ISO 9001 quality certified to have launched the online sale of medicines. From now on, health users can access more than 25,000 references on these online pharmacy sites in one click, which also offer non-prescription drugs, medical devices and parapharmacy products.
Simple and easy to access, the purchase of medication without a prescription on the Internet is not without risk. According to the World Health Organization, one out of two medicines sold online is "fake", i.e. it contains no trace of active ingredient or an incorrect dosage of this ingredient, or well only toxic substances, or any other active ingredient. Between inefficiency and severe complications, these counterfeits sold illegally are very dangerous for the health and safety of patients. It is therefore a question of being able to recognize duly authorized online pharmacies.
How to self-medicate safely? Not only is it prohibited in France and in Europe to sell medicines subject to compulsory prescription over the Internet, but, in order to protect Internet users, French law strictly regulates the online sale of medicines without a prescription. The ARS (Regional Health Agency) provides everyone with a list (1) of authorized French pharmacies which guarantees the traceability and safety of products. The National Order of Pharmacists (2) recommends always " checking that the pharmacy and its holder(s) are clearly identified " using the address, telephone number, pharmacy license number or RPPS number of the pharmacist(s), among other rules.
Self-medication also means getting information: thus, when the pharmacist sells non-prescription drugs online, he also provides online health information for this purpose. This is the case of the Pharma GDD pharmacy , which puts all non-prescription drugs authorized for sale just a click away, depending on symptoms, age, state of health (pregnancy, diabetes, etc.). ) and in the appropriate form ( tablets, capsules, sachets, suppositories, etc.), but also offers advice sheets that will support the healthcare user in his self-medication.
Why self-medicate on the internet? It is clear that the online sale of non-prescription drugs has many advantages. Not only is it accessible 24 hours a day, including “in medical deserts”, but it also allows you to:
- compare prices between different sites and between drugs;
- broaden their choice of medication and better adapt their choice to their symptoms;
- guarantee the confidentiality and security of orders;
- deliver directly to the home and avoid the patient having to travel;
- ask questions directly to your online pharmacist;
- access the complete leaflet for the drug (which is not always the case in pharmacies).
And to go further in safety, some online pharmacies offer a personal data sheet with any contraindications (allergies, other treatments in progress, medical history, etc.) and with all the information necessary to avoid interaction problems. drugs and to optimize the choice of the right drug.
