E-REGULATION AND INTERNET PHARMACIES: ISSUES AND DILEMMAS

ABSTRACT

As online healthcare delivery gains momentum in the new millennium, it is going to pose greater challenges for the regulators internationally so that the consumer's best interest is maintained. It will become increasingly important to identify and inform consumers regarding reputable websites that can address some health-related issues for the consumer. This paper discusses some of the evolving issues and dilemmas facing private sector companies, Internet advertisers, and government regulatory agency's role in promoting public health and safety. Some of the challenges involved in cultivating the benefits of electronic commerce, while at the same time preventing abuse, fraud, and deceptive and dangerous online practices, are also explored.

The paper outlines some of the early efforts of regulatory bodies, particularly the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to keep abreast of rapidly changing developments and complex issues involved in the growth of “internet pharmacies.” In part, this paper offers a snapshot of the unruly, chaotic birth and nascent development of both an industry and a technology that threaten to outrun the ability of the law and public agencies to monitor and regulate. Some of the issues related to online healthcare delivery are also discussed.