Next Avenue Turns to Libby Baney for Insight on Online Pharmacies

In “Online Pharmacies: The Good, The Bad and The Very Bad,” Next Avenue turned to government and regulatory affairs partner Libby Baney, who is also senior advisor to the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) and the ASOP Global Foundation, for her commentary on the benefits and pitfalls of purchasing prescription drugs online.

“Data shows that online pharmacies are being used by an increasing number of people, especially during the earlier stages of the pandemic when people weren’t going into brick-and-mortar stores,” said Baney. “People use them for convenience, cost and easy access to medications. It can often be less expensive to purchase medications there, even if you have health insurance and only are responsible for a co-pay. When they are legitimate and legal, providing you with the prescription medications that your doctor has ordered, online pharmacies can be a viable alternative to going to the pharmacy.”

Baney explained that separating the good online pharmacies and websites from the bad is very confusing for consumers and that even working in the health care field does not make it easier. “These digital drug dealers know what consumers want, and they oblige, with their main objective being selling you pills for profit.”