Consumer Protection on the Sale and Advertisement of Pharmaceuticals via Internet in the United States

In the United States, internet sales of pharmaceuticals have been growing rapidly. An estimated three million prescriptions were dispensed via internet in 1999. Numerous studies indicate the sales that violated the U.S. FDA regulations including the sales without prescription, the sales without physician visit, or the sales from illegal websites. This review addresses the healthcare impact of internet advertising and sale of pharmaceuticals in the U.S. The potential for adverse public health consequences of pharmaceutical marketing via internet attracted the attention of consumer protection organizations, state and federal government lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and medical/pharmacy professional associations. Subsequent consumer protection actions engendered establishment of regulatory policy, institution of marketing surveillance, law enforcement action, and drive for certification of pharmaceutical promotional websites by professional organizations. The lessons learned from the U.S. experience may provide the foundation for establishing consumer protection policies and guidelines for internet marketing of pharmaceuticals in Thailand.

Key words
Consumer protection, Internet, Sale of pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical advertisement