The Menace or Blessing of Internet Pharmacy: Some Public Policy Considerations

ABSTRACTCross-border pharmaceutical purchasing represents a challenge to accepted practices of pharmacy and the integrity of pharmacy rules and regulations within jurisdictions. This debate affects both the Canadian and American public, as well as their national governments, public and professional advocacy groups, and the pharmaceutical industry itself. It is still unclear as to who really benefits from cross-border Internet pharmacies, but it is clear that this debate has forced regulatory bodies to reengage in policy making and to discuss important issues such as access to medicine and the pharmaceutical system as a whole.