AMA House of Delegates Endorses VIPPS Program

At its recent annual meeting in Chicago, the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates approved a recommendation to "work with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy in support of the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program so that physicians and patients can easily identify legitimate Internet pharmacy practice sites."

The recommendation is included in the AMA’s Report on Internet Prescribing. The Report notes the Internet offers legitimate uses for prescribing and dispensing drugs, and offers criteria for the on-line prescribing of drugs. In addition, the value of appropriately licensed pharmacy practice Web sites that provide consumers with an alternative for obtaining prescriptions is recognized, and specifically identifies NABP’s VIPPS program as an aid for patients seeking information about these sites.

The AMA report also notes, "The VIPPS program will verify the licensure of Internet pharmacy practice sites and inform the public, through a database on the NABP Web site, whether those sites are in good standing with the appropriate state board(s) of pharmacy or other regulatory agencies."

"We are pleased that the AMA has recognized VIPPS as a valuable public service," said NABP President Dyke F. Anderson. "The AMA’s input was extremely helpful in the criteria development process for the VIPPS program."

The AMA’s move to support the VIPPS program came as several Internet-based pharmacy companies were undergoing the review process for program certification. VIPPS certification criteria includes verification of written policies and procedures for drug utilization review, patient counseling, patient confidentiality, quality improvement programs, and appropriate licensing and inspection compliance requirements.

NABP introduced VIPPS last February in response to safety and other concerns regarding the growing number of on-line pharmacies. The program’s criteria and format was developed by an NABP-led coalition of state and federal regulatory agencies, professional associations, prominent Internet pharmacies, and consumer advocacy groups. The VIPPS Application Form and additional information regarding the program are available on this website (see the VIPPS section).

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