CIPA launches Canadian Internet pharmacy 'Safe List' to ensure U.S. consumers
have access to affordable, legitimate prescription drugs
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Seniors, the uninsured and
other U.S. consumers can buy prescription drugs online without fear thanks to
a new "Safe List" released by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association
(CIPA). Until now, U.S. consumers had no central authority to confirm that an
Internet pharmacy is legitimate.
Available online at http://www.ciparx.ca/cipa_pharmacies.html , CIPA's
"Safe List" serves as a central referral source. Patients can shop for
medications with peace of mind because the list only links to licensed, CIPA-
certified Canadian pharmacies.
According to CIPA executive director David MacKay, "The FDA and big pharma
have attempted to scare consumers by alleging that purchasing drugs online is
a "buyers beware" experience - that safety can never be guaranteed, especially
when ordering from Canada. In reality, however, there is little difference
between a CIPA-certified pharmacy and your local pharmacy."
CIPA verifies each member's provincial pharmacy license and ensures it
complies with rigorous quality standards. For example, all drugs must be HPFB
approved and carry a D.I.N. number to prove they're not shipped from another
country. In addition, there are strict policies regarding patient disclosure
about a drug's country of origin.
CIPA created the "Safe List" because consumers needed a credible method to
distinguish between legitimate and dubious online pharmacies. No U.S. agency,
including the FDA, has accepted the challenge.
"If the FDA will not guide its own citizens to credible, alternative
sources, then we will do it for them. The time has come for patients to
discover the truth - they can have affordable medications without sacrificing
well-being," adds MacKay.
Although CIPA pharmacies risk reprisal from pharmaceutical manufacturers,
they believe that delivering patient benefit outweighs the potential risk.
The Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) is a non-profit
trade association created in 2002 to represent leading Canadian mail order
pharmacies. It ensures members adhere to the highest standards of practice, as
well as supports their growth and viability. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Canada, CIPA conducts government and media relations for the online pharmacy
industry and has testified in front of the U.S. Congress and HHS Task Force.
CIPA is recognized as the Canadian mail order pharmacy trade authority.
For more information, visit http://www.ciparx.ca and click "Our CIPA
Pharmacies."
SOURCE CIPA
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Related links:
http://www.ciparx.ca/cipa_pharmacies.html
http://www.ciparx.ca
CONTACT:
David MacKay, Executive Director of CIPA,
+1-204-955-3714, or dave.mackay@ciparx.ca
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