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Information update

Health Canada Warns Canadians about Buying Prescription Drugs Online from the Global Pharmacy Canada Website

Starting date:
July 27, 2010
Posting date:
July 27, 2010
Type of communication:
Information Update
Subcategory:
Drugs, Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Product Safety, Undeclared Substance, Unauthorized products
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-110003646

Health Canada is informing Canadians about the potential dangers of buying prescription drugs online from the Global Pharmacy Canada website (www.globalpharmacy.com). The company responsible for the website recently removed Canadian access to it, but Canadians may have purchased from this website in the past.

Products sold at the Global Pharmacy Canada website have not been authorized for sale by Health Canada, and Global Pharmacy Canada is not a licensed pharmacy in Canada. Canadians who have used any products purchased at the company's website, or are concerned about their health, should consult with their healthcare practitioner.

Health Canada is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop the importation of any shipments of www.globalpharmacycanada.com products from entering Canada. Should this company continue to sell unauthorized health products that may pose a risk to Canadians, Health Canada will take appropriate action.

Patients taking prescription drugs without being examined and monitored by a health care practitioner may not receive the appropriate treatment to maintain and protect their health. They may also put themselves at risk for drug interactions or harmful side effects.

Health Canada reminds Canadians to read the labelling of the products they buy to verify that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. Health products that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label.

Consumers should also be aware that there is no assurance that all claims made on the internet that a particular site is Canadian and / or a pharmacy, are reliable. Some internet sites may falsely claim to be a Canadian pharmacy and dispense foreign drugs that are unauthorized for sale in Canada.

Canadians with questions or complaints about drugs purchased over the Internet can call Health Canada's toll-free line at 1-800-267-9675.

For more information about the risks of buying drugs online, please visit Health Canada’'s website. You may also visit an It's Your Health article: Buying Drugs over the Internet.

To report a suspected adverse reaction to these or other health products, please contact the Canada Vigilance Program of Health Canada toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and send it to us using one of these methods:

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866 225-0709