Pharmacies Advertising on Google

Google has been warned, but have you?

Online pharmaceutical sales is big business – research firm eMarketer estimates that pharmacy advertising generates a revenue of around $1 billion for search engines. It is quick and easy to find the drugs you might need online, but some of these online pharmacies are questionable. A study done by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), a group representing state regulators in the US and Canada, estimated that 96% of internet drug outlets appear to be violating pharmacy laws or standards in their internet marketing strategies.

Even more recently, documents shared with the Wall Street Journal have shown that Google has been repeatedly warned that many pharmaceutical companies buying advertising space on their search engine are, in fact, illegal online drug stores. The products sold by these companies can be dangerous – whether because they are bought without a prescription, are out of date, or, even worse, are not the same product that is being advertised on the website.

Currently, federal prosecutors are investigating whether or not Google was aware of the questionable reputation of some of the rogue pharmacies with which it has done business. Recent news says that Google has set aside $500 million for payments it might have to make in retribution upon the investigation by the US Justice Department into their online advertising practices.

So what do these allegations mean for the consumer? Well, look for changes in the paid advertisements on Google in the near future. Already, it has switched over to a system also used by search engines Yahoo! and Microsoft using the NABP’s list of verified pharmacies to determine if vendors are legitimate. Besides this, consumers themselves can look carefully at the page and check for its credentials so that they are assured they are receiving the best pharmaceutical products they can find.

Contact HCC Pharmacy Business Solutions for all your pharmacy design, management and interim pharmacy management needs.