Global Pharmacy Canada Response to Legitscript Oregonian Article

March 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Global Pharmacy Canada, Inc. - Belize City, Belize

In April 2012, the Oregonian published an article about Legitscript, an organization that “watchdogs online pharmacies”. In the article, the Oregonian describes the work of Legitscript and makes negative references to Global Pharmacy Canada. This article is an unfair misrepresentation of Global Pharmacy Canada.

The article begins by describing a consumer in Oregon who purchased medicine through Global Pharmacy Canada and who became angry after learning that Legitscript had labeled Global Pharmacy Canada as a “rogue” pharmacy. The article goes on to say “…these drugs come with no quality assurance. There's no telling if she gets the right drug at the correct dosage, whether it's outdated, made with tainted ingredients, or where it's manufactured.”

Global Pharmacy Canada takes exception to the Oregonian’s unbalanced reporting of this story. The article is premised on the fact that Legitscript identifies Global Pharmacy Canada as a “rogue” pharmacy. Other than Legitscript’s rating of Global Pharmacy Canada, there is no evidence to substantiate The Oregonian’s statement that this customer’s medicines were somehow of lower quality.

To begin with, Legitscript is a private organization that does not regulate the practice of pharmacy in any jurisdiction. While it is the opinion of Legitscript that Global Pharmacy Canada is “rogue”, it should be pointed out that EVERY foreign pharmacy listed on Legitscript’s website is considered “rogue” or “unapproved”. Legitscript does not endorse any foreign pharmacy regardless of whether or not the foreign pharmacy is licensed in their jurisdiction.

By labeling all foreign pharmacies as “rogue” or “unapproved”, Legitscript seems to imply that medicines regulated by other countries, instead of the United States, are therefore unsafe. This is clearly untrue. All the pharmacies that Global Pharmacy Canada contracts with are fully licensed and regulated in the countries where the medicines are dispensed. All the medicines supplied are local government-approved and have been dispensed by licensed pharmacies regulated in Europe, Asia and/or North America. The company has been in business for over 8 years with thousands of customers around the world, and never has any customer or regulatory body alleged that a drug of inferior quality had made its way into Global Pharmacy Canada’s supply chain.

The Oregonian article further suggests that Global Pharmacy Canada is not a licensed pharmacy and that therefore it is deceptive or that somehow the medicines sold through its website are unsafe. To be clear, at no time has Global Pharmacy Canada ever made the claim that it is a pharmacy itself. The company is very clear in its marketing and in its terms and conditions that the company is NOT a pharmacy, but that it contracts with licensed pharmacies around the world. The company is also very upfront about the origin of the medicines it supplies. Throughout its website and marketing brochures Global Pharmacy Canada explains that its contract pharmacies are located overseas and that the medicine is manufactured in countries around the world. The company makes very clear this fact, not in the fine print, but in bold headings on its brochures and website home page. The company has never misled the consumer in any way.  

The other point in the Oregonian’s article that needs to be addressed is in regards to the use of the word “Canada” in the company’s name. The Oregonian suggests that many companies are not Canadian, but purport to be Canadian as a way to fool customers. This is not the case with Global Pharmacy Canada. Global Pharmacy Canada’s connection to Canada is based on the fact that when the company commenced operations, it initially contracted with a Canadian pharmacy for dispensing medicines; hence the word “Canada” in the name. The company’s mission has always been to source high quality, low cost medicine from licensed pharmacies around the world. This is the reason for the word “Global” in the name. In 2007/2008, when pricing in Canada was no longer competitive on the world market, the company, being true to its mission, sought out licensed pharmacies in other countries where prices were more competitive.
Throughout the company’s history, Global Pharmacy Canada has been transparent in its communications with customers and potential customers.