Pharmacy screening criteria
The Canadian pharmacy featured in this site is licensed by a Canadian province and governed by the laws and regulation of Canada. In December 2003, state officials visited the Canadian pharmacy and reviewed the pharmacy's facilities, the protocols used for filling prescriptions and the Canadian regulations governing Canadian pharmacies. Many of the regulations governing the Canadian pharmacies were similar to regulations applicable to pharmacies licensed by the State of Minnesota.
In selecting the Canadian pharmacy to feature on this Website and RxConnect, the Website available to the general public, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) developed a Request for Responses (RFR) for Canadian pharmacies that set forth the basic requirements for participation on this Website. For example, all participating pharmacies had to be located in Canada, be licensed in accordance with Canadian laws, be willing to guarantee affordable prices and be willing to allow Minnesota officials to visit their facilities and review their safety protocols.
DHS reviewed the responses to the RFR and identified pharmacies that met the requirements for participation. State officials then visited each of the pharmacies to review the licensing requirements, safety protocols, logistics for filling orders and competitiveness of prices.
Once the participating pharmacies were selected, DHS worked with the Canadian pharmacies and each agreed to the following:
- Maintain Canadian licensure to operate as a pharmacy and comply with applicable provincial and Canadian laws and regulations.
- Maintain membership with the Canadian International Pharmacy Association.
- Ensure that pharmacy's employees have necessary Canadian licenses.
- Require a prescription from a U.S. physician.
- Provide only prescription medications that are approved by the Government of Canada's Therapeutic Products Directorate for sale in Canada.
- Exclude medicines for which there is no equivalent approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States and medicines that cannot be safely shipped via mail.
- Not to provide medications in excess of a three-month supply or in excess of the amount approved by the person's U.S. physician.
- Use the unopened manufacturer's packaging whenever possible.
- Not fill orders for medicines if the customer indicates the purchase would represent his or her first use of that medication.
- Provide periodic reports to DHS regarding any complaints from customers accessing the pharmacy through the state's Website.