First, always verify a pharmacy’s registration with Health Canada.
Health Canada’s website provides a database allowing you to check if a pharmacy is legally operating in Canada. This simple step significantly reduces your risk.
- Look for a valid license number. Confirm the pharmacy’s physical address. Check for any warnings or suspensions.
Next, understand prescription requirements. Canadian pharmacies require valid prescriptions from a licensed Canadian physician. They cannot fill prescriptions from other countries. Ensure your prescription is legitimate and up-to-date.
Be wary of overly cheap prices or unsolicited offers. These often indicate illegitimate operations. Legitimate Canadian pharmacies will have transparent pricing and will not aggressively solicit business.
Compare prices across multiple registered pharmacies. Avoid pharmacies offering significantly lower prices than others. Be cautious of pharmacies contacting you without prior interaction.
Finally, protect your personal information. Only use secure websites with HTTPS encryption when providing sensitive data. Review the pharmacy’s privacy policy to understand how your data is handled.
- Look for the padlock icon in the address bar. Read their privacy policy carefully. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
Following these steps helps ensure a safe and legal online pharmacy experience.
