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Poll: Would you consider buying medicinal products, prescription or otherwise, over the internet?

* Please note that the results of the online poll represent just a snapshot of opinion from the site members who participate. The results of each poll do not necessarily represent the national picture. Participants are only allowed to vote once in each poll.

Anonymous   Posted: 16/01/2006 12:59

If they were signifiantly cheaper I would.

bonny  Posted: 16/01/2006 19:13

no way, would not consider it, heard recent discussion on this, and you dont know what you are buying, is the same in them or more, no way would i put my life in this situation, even if I got them for half the price;

Colm  Posted: 17/01/2006 16:53

Would research organisation behind web-site before purchasing.

John(johnwilliams)  Posted: 17/01/2006 23:09

A similar question was asked on Aug 04. My contribution is the same. 1.It is illegal to import any medicine into I reland without a licence. 2.All medicines have to have a Product Authorisation No given to it by the Irish Medicines Board (the IMB only gives a PA Number to medicines that are proven quality and efficacy). 3.No reputable supplier will illegally supply medicines to an address in Ireland so anyone that does is by definition non-reputable. 3.the IMB has the power and has seized large amounts of illegal medicines coming into the country. 4.The IMB has warned people attempting to buy illegal medicines that they are putting themselves at risk because the quality of the product is not guaranteed,(www.imb.ie).

Breda(KXM15286)  Posted: 18/01/2006 14:02

Can you blame people for doing so when the cost of medication here is outrageous and there is hardly any help to those without medical cards in paying for their medications. Particularly those who have chronic conditions. Believe me people who do this do so out of desperation. Also of course there is the ridiculous restrictions on things like St. John's Wort. Why is it restricted, maybe because pharmaceutical companies want free reign to peddle their own assortment of dolly mixtures.

Aidan(MIE40520)  Posted: 18/01/2006 14:50

good website

Anonymous   Posted: 18/01/2006 15:07

Like a lot of other people I am sure, I get a lot of spam emails offering me various drugs. These mails can't even spell the names of the drugs correctly, imagine how shoddy their manufacturig process is...!

nedlog  Posted: 18/01/2006 15:22

Yes especially those drugs that are not currently available in the country

Aidan(MIE40520)  Posted: 18/01/2006 15:24

It would have to be a very reputable brand of medicine and I would have to trust the supplier

Patzer  Posted: 18/01/2006 15:28

Breda, in relation to your comment that pharmaceutical companies peddle "dolly mixtures", I have to strongly disagree. There is a huge amount of R&D work put into each new product that is developed and with teh IMB being one of the worlds most stringent regulatory bodies, I think that it's fair to say that without the pharmaceutical companies, there would be a lot of sick people in this country. Think about it the nest time you need a an asthma inhaler or an anitibiotic. What I do think is that doctors in this country should be a lot more willing to prescribe generic alternatives (at a much lower cost).

Brains  Posted: 18/01/2006 16:45

I think you are all assuming that such products would have to come from abroad, and would therefore be dubious. What if you didn't have to go to your pharmacist with his big markup (50% I believe) and you could buy them cheaper from a reputable Irish pharmacist online. The same thing happens at the moment where you can buy contact lenses via the web - so long as you produce your prescription - and they're cheaper than you pay your optician. I buy my contact lenses online like this and would buy medication if given the option.

jsg  Posted: 18/01/2006 17:40

Absolutely YES! But this assumes that the seller is reputable. In Germany a online pharmacy www.docmorris.com offers medicines (prescription and non-prescription) for significantly lower prices than local pharmacies. The Pharmacies tried to sue DocMorris, but ultimately failed. I accept that the legal situation is currently different here as johnwilliams has explained, but there is no valid reason why that should stay like that, as a Product Authorisation is given for the product independent from the retailer.

Toni  Posted: 18/01/2006 17:41

Despite the rip-off prices of medicine here in this country I would not risk ordering on line. It is possible, however, to go into a chemist in other countries and purchase for a small fraction of the prices here.

Helga(mikaela)  Posted: 18/01/2006 20:22

Never for any reason. Bad enough to have to get prescription medicine. My only fear is that people addicted to sleeping pill, tranquilizers or other pills which should only be taken for short periods would buy them on the internet. More selfinflicted illnesses like zigarettes and alcohol.

lavender  Posted: 18/01/2006 20:52

Having recently paid $71 Euro for a months supply of Glucosamine I dowonder ifwe are being ripped off. Possibly could be cheaper on the net.

Kitty  Posted: 18/01/2006 21:08

With the internet making it possible to do research, I think a customer should first inform him or herself before buying prescription drugs. I think it is a good alternative for us to be in control of our own money for a change and not the pharmaceutical companies who already rip us off to begin with.

Vlad  Posted: 18/01/2006 21:40

I am unsure at the moment for a number of reasons.I would have to be satisfied that I could trust the vendor of the product.Also my credit card is with the A.I.B. and I am not satisfied with their policy on payment over the internet.

xxxx  Posted: 18/01/2006 21:48

no. I would not trust the source of these medicines. I always like to know where my medicine comes from.

Patti.  Posted: 18/01/2006 23:06

No. I would not put my credit card number on the net.

1950  Posted: 19/01/2006 08:47

I would never buy online thru any source that comes to me through spam, however I would definitely buy brand name from a company whose reputation I can verify. I have a chronic condition and for LESS than I pay for ONE month's prescription at the local pharmacy, I can purchase THREE months' worth online. As the drug causes a measurable result, I can tell it is having the same effect that the same brand purchased in Ireland has. It is an area that I would advise extreme caution though. But as with the ridiculous St John's Wort (and others) restrictions, I argue that adults should be treated as adults. This idea of the government, who knows less about my condition than I and my doctor do, making rules and restricting how I obtain legitimately prescribed medication and/or vitamin, mineral,and herbal supplements is beyond belief! The pharmaceutical companies run our government and ignorant lawmakers just do whatever they say. See Constant Gardener for an example of the power they have and the lengths they will go to in order to make profits. Aside: I buy a lot online and have never (touch wood) had any security problems with my credit card. A little common sense is all that is needed (and that would apply to all facets of this post!).

Tini  Posted: 19/01/2006 09:06

Of course, if the seller is reputable. there are many well regulated licensed pharmacies in the EU which sell medicines over the web on production of your prescription. Absolutely nothing wrong with this. John, does that mean that my frind who buys her medicines in her family pharmacy in spain, having faxed over her perscription and gets her meds posted over is doign something illegal? And what abpout my uncle who buys his meds up orth for a quarter f the cost?? Is that also illegal?

Shell  Posted: 19/01/2006 10:19

I don't see why not. If you've been prescibed drugs by a doctor, then why not buy them direct from the manufacturer than going to a Chemist? Without wishing to be rude Patti, I think not using your credit card on the web is irrelevant towards this topic as I'm guessing you mean you wouldn't buy anything on the web including medicine.

Colm Cille  Posted: 19/01/2006 10:19

I regularly buy Saint John's Wort (not available now in this state) and other complementary medicines on the Net. I do research before buying anything, and would not buy certain medicines that need a doctor's prescription. Be careful and do your research, but also be aware that pharmacy is a business/corporation that protects its own monopoly, interests and profits, often to the detriment of the consumer. I think that not having Saint John's Wort on sale in this state is an example of this protectionism.

Carol  Posted: 19/01/2006 11:45

I bought a SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Lamp off the internet. It didn't save me money but it was handier than going out looking!

Jim(NIV37941)  Posted: 19/01/2006 13:00

As Dusty Springfield once sang 'How can I be sure in a world thats constantly changing?'OK she's dead but she did'nt die from buying faulty medicine from faceless people of no fixed abode.

Chana  Posted: 19/01/2006 13:53

Jim, many of the companies are registered and reputable and are not of no fixed abode

Toni  Posted: 19/01/2006 13:58

Oh, if I got the name of a chemist in Spain who would supply me I would happily buy over the 'net.

gjad  Posted: 19/01/2006 14:59

No. But medical aids yes like those offered by vhi. While on the subject, where can one buy aids for the Blind such as talking clock or telephones that that say the numbers as you dial them? Anyone out there that knows?

Toni  Posted: 19/01/2006 17:29

For low vision users try National Council for the Blind. Also: http://www.dynamic-living.com/low_vision_aids.htm (that should be one line only) where they have a number of suggestions.

Breda(KXM15286)  Posted: 19/01/2006 19:09

Patizer, I fully realise the amount of R&D which goes into pharmaceuticals, being qualified in this area myself. But as I’m sure you are aware, no scientist worth their salt will tell you anything is absolutely proof positive safe, until it has gone through a complete life cycle. How many drugs on the market today can we say that about. Just look at the amount of side effects we see from very many pharmaceuticals. Of course there is a place for pharmaceuticals and they are very necessary to society and to the health of us all. However, when pharmaceutical companies, use tactics to bully other alternatives out of the market place, that is wrong. Why don’t doctors use generic alternatives?, perhaps it is because they are wined and dined by pharmaceutical companies at every opportunity, I have worked in this area long enough to see exactly how it all works and it makes me sick. It is interesting patzer that you mentioned antibiotics, because do you know that no R&D work has gone into any new antibiotic since the mid 1970s because of the inability of companies to make big profits out of them. So if you imagine that pharmaceutical companies have your best interests at heart you are very much mistaken. They have the interests of their share holders at heart. That is why they remove perfectly good and effect medications from the market, to promote their newer more expensive alternatives. So there are many people out their who were perfectly happy on older meds, who are now suffering with unacceptable side effects on newer medications, simply because of a bottom line.

Jim(NIV37941)  Posted: 20/01/2006 13:06

Chana, Not that I use it or have any need of it ...yet. but what about those Viagra online sellers whose product had a low level purity?But I accept your assurance.

Noel(AIN40670)  Posted: 20/01/2006 22:58

No guarantee that the medicines are what they are supposed to be.

ferdinand  Posted: 22/01/2006 20:55

Source: Financial Times (UK) Online sales for the christmas period rose by 50% over 2004. UK online spending reached over £5 Billion last year (2005. Internet sales now account for 9% of all UK retail sales. So, whether you like it or not in all areas, including the area of health options e-commerce is growing. the recent launch of \"3V\" the top up credit card for those who don\'t have one; will help ensure that this trend continues in Ireland. The IMB is an organisagion who are destined to self destruct. They sense the winds of change and are getting very unnerved. Irish people will not allow themselves to be downtrodden by corporate greed. A peruvian plant called Maca (lepidium meyenni) which has been eaten in Peru for thousands of years is now the subject of an attempt of being classed as a medicine which means that it would need IMB authorisation to be sold here. Many doctors in the U.S. have recently been reccomending Maca in place of HRT. For those of you who dont know; HRT was recently reclassified by the WHO from a possible carcinogen to a carcinogen. The United Nations in a report on nutrition in South America cited Maca as one of the indigenous crops that natives should reinstate in their diets as a source of supernutririon. Maca is a food not a medicine. it is an amazingly nutritious root vegetable. It can help as a source of basic nutrition and seems to enhance many aspects of physical wellbeing. The IMB, worried that it may actually replace some medicines are trying to use their powers of classification to stop the lossses to their corporate sponsors. The IMB, now faced with the possibility of Irish people using their inalienable right to free choice of what to eat are using their power to end that right. It\'s about time Irish people stood up for themselves; our TD\'s are supposed to WORK for us. Phone yours and ask them what they think of the power that the IMB yields. You dont have to be an authority on medicine just ask THEM \"what they think\" encourage your friends to write these letters also. Ask them it they are aware that if a food is discovered that is as nutritious as Maca and may actually help the nations health with no side effects and at a low cost. (about the price of a carrot) The IMB can actually reclassify it as a medicine. If you don\'t take the time to ask your T.D. to work for you. They will continue to do nothing. It will be your fault not theirs! We\'ll all get sicker, The Pharm companies will get richer and a new generation of T.D.\'s will be born tommorow to do it all over again. Read all about it at the Alliance for Natural Health website http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/ Watch the movie narrated by Dame Judi Dench \"We become silent\". About those online sellers who \"cannot spell\". They are not selling ANYTHING. they just mispell to bypass spam filters. All they want to do is spread virus\'s. The vandals / graffitti artists of cyberspace. You couldn\'t buy anything from them if you wanted to. they just want you to click links to open virus\'s. Why are people so afraid to give their credit card details over the internet yet don\'t bat an eyelid at swiping their cards and using their pin numbers all over the place in stores. What makes them so afraid of online sales. When ATM machines came out first we were all afraid of them for a while. Then we got used to them; just like the Euro the Kilometer and texting!

John(johnwilliams)  Posted: 22/01/2006 22:24

In reply to Tini, I have already said in a previous post that importing medicines without a licence is illegal. The licence to import medicines and to grant product authorisation has been vested in the Irish Medicines Board and if many of the above posters looked up the site www.imb.ie they wouldn't write some of the erroneous comments that they did write. By the way most countries have the equivalent of a medicines board for the very simple reason that medicine is not like a packet of cornflakes. Very very few people would get their medicines analysed to ascertain that it contains what it says on the label so the state had to set up a watchdog to ensure the quality of drugs being prescribed.

Trish  Posted: 23/01/2006 09:26

Sure Noel, considering the number of medicines that have been withdrawn over the years. There doesn't seem to be any garauntee with meds you buy from regular pharmacy either.

Tini  Posted: 23/01/2006 09:46

John, does that mean that my friend who buys her medicines in her family pharmacy in spain, having faxed over her perscription and gets her meds posted over is doign something illegal? And what about my uncle who buys his meds up North for a quarter of the cost?? Is that also illegal? The constructs that the IMB put in place to try to prevent this isn\'t just to protect the consumer but to try to protect their share of the market. Nothing wrong with that, but at least don\'t try to make out their efforts are solely for our good.,

Breda(KXM15286)  Posted: 23/01/2006 15:28

Surely if we have open markets in the EU, it should be perfectly legal to fax your prescription to any EU country and have them post your medication to you. I can see no problem with that. This is a consumer issue just like everything else. I'm sure other EU countries, have similar protections in place with regards to medicines as we do. So the only possible reason to prevent this is to protect vested interests in this country.

liam(lcollins)  Posted: 23/01/2006 23:46

it seems to me that we are being hoodwiked by the irish medical board, and the drug companys, into believing that the drugs that we can get on the internet,. are inferior that seems to be their interest , to protect their massive profits form the drugs that they sell, i would and have bought stuff on thte internet , and will continue to do so , its a conspiricy if you ask me, a cartel, and the likes,

Mary  Posted: 24/01/2006 08:35

Oh course iyt's perfectly legal Breda and yes Liam, it's being done to protect vested interests and drug companies not just Irish consumers. And this IS a consumer issue as well as a health one.

Ferdinand  Posted: 24/01/2006 20:27

"Dr" John Williams I presume? Google him if you dont believe me! No wonder. Sure all civilised countries have an equivelant of the IMB. All civilised countries are big business for the pharm companies!! Take a closer look at "DR" John Williams words: "I have already said in a previous post that importing medicines without a licence is illegal." ve vill not say it again! Ve Haf Varned you!...... Can you hear the reassurance in his voice?.....the demeanour of a man with a huge organisation behind him. The really scary thing is he is so right, if the IMB decide something is a medicine then it's a medicine. EVEN if it is a food. Read their definition of a medicine. (COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR BROWSER) http://www.imb.ie/uploads/publications/6342926_guidelines.pdf They have just about everything covered to protect their interests with plenty of mentions of prision sentences. "is liable to fines or to a prison term, as appropriate." Sure, there is a passage in the document which reassures us that "This guide does not purport to be the definitive interpretation of the law and/or regulations and is for guidance purposes only." But The document is specifically designed to frighten / discourage certain parties including would be suppliers of certain "FOOD" You don't believe me read: "A product which is recommended or described as having preventive or curative properties is a medicinal product....even if it is generally considered as a foodstuff and even if it has no known therapeutic effect in the present state of scientific knowledge’. Read between the lines. all together now lets define the following words for Mother Eire and her sick hoardes: Curative, Preventative, Treat, Medicine, Food, Packet of cornflakes, prevent, nourish, strengthen, therapeutic effect, present state of scientific knowledge. If any Irish people don't understand any of the above words / concepts "Dr" Williams and the IMB will help them to understand. I'm off now to get a prescription for my medicine...an orange which helps me fight colds and flu and helps build a strong immune system. Call your T.D. M.E.P. Get him to WORK for you before it's too late. I'm not joking! Soon it will be too late. Read all about it at http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/index.cfm. Watch the movie "WE BECOME SILENT" Narrated by Dame Judi Dench. Ask your T.D./ M.E.P. to watch it and send him a copy of the IMB definition of a medicine. or the link to it.

pj  Posted: 25/01/2006 16:22

I would if they were well sourced & cheaper.

kev  Posted: 25/01/2006 16:58

John Williams should stop pretendingto have a balanced view on issues regarding the IMB, internet medications, herbal medicines. It is patently obvious who he represents. Its the same old story in Ireland, the "authorities" reassuring us that they have our best interests at heart. We are not idiots - we may have been in the past, but we've seen the light, John. The IMB, the cozy cabal of pharmacists and doctors, is a discredited body, it should declare itself redundant, and retire. But it won't, so its up to the politicians to create something with some credibility (fat chance - the ole directorship/consultance job might not materialise!). One great thing about the internet - the truth will out - eventually!

John(johnwilliams)  Posted: 26/01/2006 21:28

In reply to Kev. I represent nobody except myself and I give my views like everybody else on this site. You seem to be annoyed that I was pointing out the facts about importing medicines. I didn't pass the law. Neither did the Irish Medicines Board, it enforces the law as passed by Dail Eireann. As for the IMB being discredited and being a cozy cabal. Just checking the Board of the IMB, appointed by the Minister of Health, it only has two doctors on it. Kev's naivity in believing that all truth lies on the internet demonstrates in a very clear way why the IMB is necessary for the protection of gullible members of the public. Ferdinand claims I am a doctor. I am not a medical doctor and even if I was, would it alter the facts (of the illegality of purchasing prescription medicines over the internet) as pointed out by me. The rest of his post is so silly it is not worth replying to.

Chana  Posted: 27/01/2006 08:37

Unhder EU law, which protect OPEN markets accross its borders, it is perfectly legal to fax your prescription to any EU country and have them post your medication to you. How does this differ John with meds purchased, from an online pharmacy, for example in the UK, with a perscription?

kev  Posted: 27/01/2006 13:27

There are some who believe that if they say something often enough, and sternly enough, and loudly enough, that they have an irrefutable case. Fortunately for mankind, we have been blessed with questioning, sceptical minds. So even though the cigarette manufacturers kept telling us, loudly and sternly, that smoking was not dangerous to our health, we refused to accept their statements. Ditto with manufacturers of alcohol products, drugs, medications, etc etc. The simple fact is that the prescribed drugs industy is rattled by the fact that people are assessing their own health, and reaching their own decisions on a scale never seen before. This is due to a long history of drugs firms either deliberately misleading consumers about the side-effects of their drugs or perhaps, due to inadequate research, being unaware of the side-effects. Naturally, these drugs companies will point to the downsides of natural/herbal remedies. It is good that they do so, as we, the consumers, need all the information we can get. However, their information is geared to convincing us of the unsuitability of these remedies, so as to maintain the sales of their drugs - it is not a balanced viewpoint. People who shout at us, call us gullible and reassure us that they know better - get real, your day is over. We do have brains, we can see through you. Nobody is their right mind would believe everything they read, on the internet, nor in the newspapers, etc. It would be impossible, there are so many divergent, indeed conflicting views. But the value of the internet is that they can all be expressed. And I'm always wary of people who refer to "the public" as if they are not members themselves.

John(johnwilliams)  Posted: 27/01/2006 21:13

Chana. It is not perfectly legal to fax a prescription and have it posted to you even within Ireland. Before you attack me like some of the other posters I did not pass the law and I am sure it is there for a very good reason. My understanding is that prescription medicines can only be supplied from a premised licensed for that purpose. So any mail order by post or by the internet is illegal. Medicines that do not have a PA number (Irish) cannot be imported into the country without a licence. Medicines are not like other goods. If you import a book or CD or clothing or whatever and you don't like it no harm done (except to your wallet). But if you are taking a medicine without medical supervision it can be dangerous.

Ferdinand  Posted: 29/01/2006 14:38

DOCTOR, if you are taking a medicine WITH medical supervision it can be dangerous...............

John(johnwilliams)  Posted: 29/01/2006 18:41

Since my last post I have found out that last August or September (2005) The Minister for Health made a new order allowing for the mail order sale (which I presume includes internet sales) within the country of some NON prescription medicines. I have been told that the details of the order were in the September issue of IRIS OIFIGUIL. As I have no intention of buying mail order medicices I am not going to wade through the turgid legalese of Governemnt orders to find out exactly which over the counter medicines can be purchased this way. I suspect that the list is very short and the order is just an exercise in spin.

Chana  Posted: 30/01/2006 09:31

John, I don't think you read kmy post. You said, if you are taking a medicine without medical supervision it can be dangerous. - But I just stated, if the perscription is faxed over - PERSCRIPTION, AS IN PERSCRIBED BY A DR. , then the pharmacist, sends over the exact ame meds as you would get from a pharmacy here for 4 times the price. Equally, you take your perscription over the border and have it filled there, with EXACTLY the same meds.

May(WMR21892)  Posted: 30/01/2006 13:02

Yes I would, people in Ireland have been driven to this. The prices we pay are totally over the top. Its all about GREED.

Ferdinand  Posted: 30/01/2006 18:25

Dr. Williams says: "The rest of his post is so silly it is not worth replying to" Hmmm... according to the IMB: "A product which is recommended or described as having preventive or curative properties is a medicinal product....even if it is generally considered as a foodstuff and even if it has no known therapeutic effect in the present state of scientific knowledge’ That's silly alright! Call your T.D. M.E.P. Get him to WORK for you before it's too late. I'm not joking! Soon it will be too late. Read all about it at http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/index.cfm. Watch the movie "WE BECOME SILENT" Narrated by Dame Judi Dench. Ask your T.D./ M.E.P. to watch it and send him a copy of the IMB definition of a medicine. or the link to it. http://www.imb.ie/uploads/publications/6342926_guidelines.pdf If you don't take the time to ask your T.D. / M.E.P to work for you. They will continue to do nothing. It will be your fault not theirs! We'll all get sicker, The Pharm companies will get richer and a new generation of T.D.'s will be born tommorow to do it all over again.

John(johnwilliams)  Posted: 01/02/2006 23:20

Ferdinand. Just to explain a couple of things to you in plain English. 1. I am not a doctor. 2. The reason the Irish Medicines Board word the definition of medicine that way is to stop people claiming cures for quack products. For instance, you could package some 'food' and even though it had no therapeutic value you might claim it cured an illness i.e. cancer. It is not the food that the IMB is calling a medicine it is the scam artist who is claiming it is such. I hope you understand that.

soulboydk  Posted: 02/02/2006 13:56

I have been buying natural medicines on the net, with great promises, all failed to do what they said they could do, even give money back. I think it funny some web sites buy before 12pm and save save get one free. the lie alot. and yes there is far to much junk mail offering medical drugs. Can be dangerous for those seeking to abuse or over dose. should be stopped.

catts  Posted: 02/02/2006 23:19

yes i would. irish people have been left in the dark toooo long...................

Ferdinand  Posted: 03/02/2006 02:11

Nobody selling vitamins, food supplements or Maca claim to be able to cure Cancer; and it is a terribly desperate and insensitive tactic on John Williams part to imply such a thing. Also: The Pharm. companies carry out selective research which suits their ends and then make their data appear the way it looks best. But I\'m glad John Williams raised the issue of plain English; because I do get carried away with my passion for urging the Irish people not to allow themselves to be dragged into the tragic hellish darkness of pharm. company greed. This passion sometimes causes me to use words other than plain English. SO HERE\'S SOME PLAIN ENGLISH: 1. The worldwide public at large having detected it\'s wholesale failure are moving away from the conventional medicine of their fathers and mothers and are continually & increasingly opting for natural alternatives. 2. The pharm companies with their finger on the pulse of public choice have been realising this over the last four years. 3.Faced with this public about face the large Pharmeceutical giants have been scrambling to lobby for & provoke the implementation of new regulations so they can include natural foods, vitamins, minerals and herbs in the realm of medicine. The pharm. companies previously had little or no interest in this area. Read all about it at http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/index.cfm. Watch the movie \"WE BECOME SILENT\" Narrated by Dame Judi Dench. Ask your T.D./ M.E.P. to watch it and send him a copy of the IMB definition of a medicine. or the link to it. http://www.imb.ie/uploads/publications/6342926_guidelines.pdf If you don\'t take the time to ask your T.D. / M.E.P to work for you. They will continue to do nothing. It will be your fault not theirs! We\'ll all get sicker, The Pharm. companies will get richer and a new generation of T.D.\'s will be born tommorow to do it all over again. Soon it will be too late

dec  Posted: 05/10/2007 16:14

How would people feel about buying their prescription / non-prescription drugs online from an Irish Based Pharmacy?

CitizenCare  Posted: 20/12/2007 01:51

Interesting ongoing discussion on buying online meds. The constitutional rights (Art. 40.3, I think) of citizens to self-determination and to privacy is being balanced against regulations to protect society. From the discussion so far, it is not clear if the IMB has been tested on the legality of prohibiting importation of medications. Regarding buying medications online, we, the citizens, need to determine if it is legal or not to do so. The reason I feel that this is the primary consideration, is that if you are a nervous wreck due to some major stress you are going through, and you order something online to help your nerves, you will be a much worse nervous wreck if you realise you have done something illegal. Ferdinand, where can one obtain that tape narrated by Dame Judi Dench. 'We were Silent'.

Papa  Posted: 20/12/2007 14:36

Citizencare, in fairness, who actually cares if it's legal or not? The government introduced that product recycling fund on electrical goods to make it almost impossible to buy electronics online, they have VRT on cars. Seems they just "invent" laws to make it too hard to buy outside our country. Feck them. I got my malaria tablets in Thailand for less than a tenth of the price they are here.

CitizenCare  Posted: 21/12/2007 01:59

Papa, I care about the legality of it only because I don't want to be prosecuted for doing something illegal. I don't want the 'medicine police' running after me, making a show of me. Ethically, I see nothing wrong with buying any product, medicinal or otherwise online, it saves the hassle of going out looking for things. it's a lot more convenient. I am in favour of self-determination, and the right to privacy. It's up to all of us to inform ourselves, this includes informing ourselves on what we ingest, where we get it, monitoring our own response to it; I have never encountered a GP who actively followed up on the administration of medication, so people better start doing it themselves. As for the IMB, or any other medicine regulatory body for that matter, they are constructs that are now married to economics, and control rather than protect citizens, (See PrimeTime Investigates Dec 3rd 07). You cannot be sure that you are not being poisonsed just because you got a legitimate prescription in Ireland, and bought the medicine in your local pharmacy, just like you can't be sure about medications you buy in Thailand. So it's a level playing field, might as well get them in Thiland, where they are ten times cheaper.

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