I routinely audit online pharmacies located in Canada that sell to Americans. Here are the facts.
Through the PharmacyChecker Verification Program, we routinely audit Canadian pharmacies, as well as pharmacies in the United States, Australia, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. We will only grant accreditation to online pharmacies that meet our program’s high pharmacy practice standards. Canada’s drug product and pharmacy regulations are similar to those in the United States. Canadian pharmacies that operate in accordance with those regulations and, additionally, the PharmacyChecker standards, are ones most able to provide consumers with a safe and affordable option for ordering prescription medication online.
Related: I inspected online pharmacies located in India that sell to Americans. Here's what I discovered.
I have seen a lot in my pharmacy career, with 10 years of experience in different U.S pharmacy settings, including retail, hospital, and mail-order. From auditing Canadian online pharmacies, I can tell you that they are extremely similar to U.S. pharmacies. Every conversation I have had with a Canadian pharmacist feels like I am talking to a peer on this side of the border: they are highly knowledgeable, speak English, and understand the importance of patient safety above all else.
Pharmacies in Canada must be licensed by their provincial pharmacy authorities, similar to how U.S. state boards of pharmacy license pharmacies here. At the national level, the Therapeutic Products Directorate is the agency of Health Canada that regulates the Canadian drug supply, similar to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drugs cannot be sold from a Candian pharmacy unless they are approved by Health Canada.
An interesting report written for the State of Illinois discovered that Canadian pharmacies in Manitoba are as safe if not safer than those in Illinois; and that the U.S. and Canadian systems for ensuring safety and efficacy of drug products are very similar. Just this year, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services declared that drugs imported from Canada pose no additional safety risk and can help achieve substantial savings.
Canadian Online Pharmacy Safety Standards
Below, I’ve listed the important attributes of accredited Canadian online pharmacies.
Canadian Pharmacy Audit Observations |
| All medications are dispensed from a licensed pharmacy |
| All medications dispensed are checked by a licensed pharmacist |
| All medications dispensed require a valid prescription |
| The pharmacy provides a physical address and telephone number |
| Licensed pharmacist available for medical consultations |
| Guarantees the financial information you provide online is secure using SSL technology |
| The pharmacy privacy policy is published publicly |
| Pharmacy marketing claims are truthful and not misleading |
Ordering Online from Accredited Canadian Pharmacies
To become accredited by PharmacyChecker, Canadian pharmacies are verified for compliance with our policies and standards. They are monitored by PharmacyChecker for continued compliance. PharmacyChecker accreditation helps online shoppers find the same quality of care internationally as they would at home. Even before the global coronavirus pandemic, this was of great importance to millions of Americans. For many, mail-order pharmacies, whether domestic or international, are critically important to one’s safety.
In short, our verification and drug price information on PharmacyChecker.com make it easier for patients to safely save on medications.
Compare prices at PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacies today, knowing your orders are filled ethically and safely with the care and due diligence explained above.
Check out our list of Accredited Online Pharmacies
