(29) APhA-ASP supports the education of patients about the dangers of drug importation from non-domestic distributors.

R2 PRT: Personal drug Importation – Wording/action:
(29) APhA-ASP supports the education of patients about the dangers of drug importation from non-domestic distributors.

Reasons for the Action(s) / Pros and Cons:

With the globalization of the healthcare market more and more patients are self-diagnosing and self-prescribing by turning to foreign distributors for less expensive medications. Many foreign drug companies neglect to have pharmacists on staff to serve as resources for patients who choose to obtain their medications this way, creating a need for pharmacists in the United States who can educate patients and establish the patient-provider relationship.
It is easy to find non-domestic, online pharmacies in which US patients can order any quantity of a variety of medications sans prescriptions from licensed prescribers. In some cases, medications ordered are packaged and contain literature in another language, making it even more difficult for patients to properly identify, administer, and store their medications. More complications arise when patients take it upon themselves to administer certain medications; for example, taking antibiotics without proper diagnosis has shown increased resistance, decreasing effectiveness for when it is actually needed.

Joseph Demers & Aditi Shukla ; 732-618-7482 ;
JosephP.Demers@gmail.com, Aditi.N.Shukla@gmail.com ;
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia