?Online Pharmacy?- this term was unknown to people till the last decade. People were unknown to the fact that this is a sort of thing, which can help them in many ways. But because of the increased popularity of computers and Internet this topic has become the most familiar topic today. Because of Internet, access to the delivery of health care through these online pharmacies is experiencing a revolutionary turnaround.

The Internet undoubtedly has become the largest computer network of the world. Thousands of these types of websites are available which provide online pharmacy and Online Prescriptions. These websites are stuffed with millions of topics related to health. According to the reports of American Association of Family Physicians, the use of e-mails has grown to 100 million in the Y2K.

The Internet has created so many countless opportunities for patients to access not only health related topics and information but also to avail products and services through these online pharmacies. The definition of an online pharmacy can be given as a pharmacy site n the Internet that is lawful, a site that provides its patients an easy and a very private way to buy the drug prescribed by them.

The main thing is that these websites provides free consultation and prescription, which makes it very easy for any one to buy the required medicine. The most popular drugs that are bought online ranges from medicine of erectile dysfunction to weight loss pill to all sorts of small or big named drugs. Reputed online pharmacies give the patient, the facility to consult with the licensed and registered pharmacists in the privacy of their homes. There are two types of websites that work as online pharmacies. Those who sell medicines and those that prescribes and sells drugs. In the first type of online pharmacy websites, an account is created of a patient by gathering his personal information such as a credit card or an insurance policy number. In this case, the patient has to submit a valid prescription from a licensed physician. After analyzing this prescription, doctor working with the website can either call or contact through e-mails regarding the medicines. The online pharmacy, then checks and delivers the prescription.

Some online pharmacies send drugs from a central distribution point where as some works in the contract with local brick-and-mortar pharmacy stores. These pharmacy stores deliver the medicine to the patients as ordered by the websites. Legitimate online pharmacies simply dispense drugs based on a physician's prescription, but add the convenience of home delivery. Despite of the fact that barter of drugs is an accepted tradition, prescribing drugs on Internet through these websites sometimes creates significant health risks to the consumers.

On these drug prescribing websites, consumers get drugs merely by filling a questionnaire form. The pharmacists of these websites get very little information about patient's current health status and past medical history. Hence, these online pharmacists have to prescribe medicines according to that questionnaire form. In effect, these websites detour the long established and time honored relationship of a doctor and a patient in favor of self-diagnosis.

This non-communication between a doc and a patient exposes clients to unsafe side effects from improperly suggested drugs and dangerous drug interface. The principles of doing no harm is violated because patients lives are put on the harmful path by breaking the FDA rules and laws (FDA, 2001) to the benefit of illegal health service providers. Most of the people affected for the most part, by using this form of technology for prohibited and immoral practice are the disabled, the elderly people, and people living in the remote areas.

However, everyone could be affected negatively. The experienced players who works illegally often makes their websites linked with big pharmacy companies and stores. Web sites that advertise prescription drugs without an officially written prescription rebuff customers from the security provided by an examination conducted by a licensed practitioner, again, breaches of nonmaleficence and beneficence (FDA, 2001). Before approaching any Online Pharmacy stores, these questions must be answered how to know if the medications are safe? Is it legal to buy medications online? How can one keep himself from being ripped off?

It can be the matter of the life and death, if wrong medicine is consumed by mistake. So it does make sense to be 100 percent sure about the drugs one is about to buy online. This should be made sure that these drugs are of a high quality and the prescription is 100 percent accurate. Recently, WHO and FDA issued guidelines for the pharmacy companies doing their trade through Internet.

These guidelines were made to assist people to know which pharmacy website is genuine and they can trust on. SQUARE TRADE, a worldwide leader in establishing harmless and fair business practices on the Internet, recently launched a program to identify online pharmacy companies that meet the austere security and ethical requirements for doing business online. The next burning question is about the legality of buying medicines from these websites.

Well, it's the tough job to answer this question because no one can give legal advice but one thing can be told for sure and that is to tell if it's legal to buy prescription medication online where you live. If companies like Pfizer ad walmart are selling dugs through websites, it means they are doing it legally because these big companies are controlled by laws boards, which analyze their activities.

There is absolutely no chance that these companies can get away with illegal business on Internet. Just be sure that any online pharmacy you choose to order from follows the other guidelines for safety and quality as given by FDA. The next question is about prevention from getting ripped off. The answer to this query is quite simple.

Person should always be cautious while placing an order from an online drug store to which he is not very familiar. One should do a little homework researching about that website. Call the website or e-mail them and try and get in contact with the doctors connected with that website and last but not the least look for the square trade trademark on their web site. If they are presenting medications without a prescription, move on unless you want to take big chances with your health.

Even in the countries like U.K selling prescription drugs straight to customers is against the rule but, due to the worldwide environment of the Internet, bodies like the government's Medical Control Agency (MCA) are often incapable to step forward against illegal websites. Still many websites are there who works on this concept of online drug selling in collaboration with very good pharmacy companies and always insisted on online prescription before selling and drug.