The regulation of online pharmacies dispensing prescription-only medicines in Kenya: a consumer protection perspective
Date
2020-11
Authors
ZALO, MARGARET ATSIENO
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
In light of the advent of online pharmacies as a publicly accepted means of purchasing medical products and services, this research adopts a qualitative method of research to examine the legal challenges in the regulation of online pharmacies that dispense prescription-only medicines which may undermine the self-medicating consumer’s rights. It begins by giving a general overview of the characteristics of online pharmacies and proceeds to outline the existing national and international regulatory mechanisms that may apply to them. It further investigates the dispensation of prescription-only medicines by online pharmacies in Kenya before discussing the new challenges introduced by online pharmacies, not addressed in
regulation.
Description
In this day and age, more of the world has access to mobile devices and the Internet than ever before. Conventional times have seen the introduction of e-commerce which has enabled the buying and selling of a wide range of services and goods, including medicines, over the Internet. Without face-to-face interactions with health professionals, consumers can now access medications from online pharmacies that were previously only available in brick and mortar pharmacy establishments.