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Proposed Legislation to Regulate Online Pharmacies
New legislation is currently being considered by the U.S. Congress to regulate the sale and distribution of prescription drugs over the Internet. The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act would prohibit online pharmacies from selling or distributing prescription drugs unless there was a valid prescription issued by a practitioner who has examined the patient in person at least once, subject to certain exceptions for “telemedicine practitioners”. In addition, the Act would require online pharmacies to (i) comply with the pharmacy licensing laws in each state in which they do business, (ii) report to the Attorney General on the quantity of controlled substances that they dispense each month where a certain threshold is surpassed, and (iii) provide certain information on their website, including the qualifications of the pharmacist in charge. The Act would also provide for stiffer penalties for the illegal distribution of certain controlled substances.
For more information, visit:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10046825-38.html