ADV-CARE Pharmacy

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q		Do I need a prescription?
A		Yes. You must provide a valid prescription completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine and issue prescriptions where you live. A Canadian doctor will need to review your confidential medical file in order to legally authorize your prescription in Canada. A complete package of the necessary paperwork can be downloaded from our site if you do not use our on-line ordering.

Q		How large a supply of medication may be purchased?
A		You may order only as much as your physician prescribes for you. The maximum allowed by law is a 90-day supply. Your physician can elect to allow three additional 90-day supply repeats on your prescription. We recommend requesting three refills as this saves you money.

Q		Why do I have to fill out a medication history form and sign a medical release?
A		As part of our service to you, we complete a drug interaction review (DUR) to ensure that your prescription is safe to take with your other prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Q		Why are generic drugs more readily available in Canada?
A		Patent protection laws in Canada are different than in the other parts of the world and allow for easier and earlier manufacture of generic and ultra generic drugs. Ultrageneric drugs are generic drugs produced by the brand name manufacturer.

Q		Are Canadian generic drugs safe?
A		Canadian generic drugs fall under the same approval and regulatory process as brand name drugs. Some Canadian manufacturers that you might recognize include Apotex, Genpharm, Novopharm and Pharmascience are Health Canada and FDA approved.

Q		Can medications with codeine be shipped outside Ontario?
A		Some codeine products are available in Canada without a prescription, but it is against Canadian law to export narcotics. Codeine is considered a narcotic. Also, it is illegal to ship controlled drugs like codeine outside Ontario.

Q		How much are shipping charges and how long will I have to wait?
A		Current Xpresspost shipping costs are $15.00 CAD per shipment, to each location. You can save money by ordering all of your prescriptions and OTC products at one time. Your order will arrive within 10-15 business days, allowing for any border delays. Over the past year, most orders have arrived within 5 business days or less, which is the service standard that we strive to maintain.

Q		Are there any sales taxes charged on products shipped from Canada?
A		There is no sales tax charged on products shipped outside Canada.

Q		How do I pay for my medications?
A		We have the facility to accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, E-Check (pre-authorized check debit) and International Money Order.

Q		Can you bill my insurance company?
A		While we are unable to accept insurance plans from other countries due primarily to systems incompatibility, we will provide you with a receipt which can be submitted to your insurer for reimbursement. We accept only Canadian insurance plan.

Q		Do you offer catalogues or price lists?
A		While we do not have a catalogue, our products and prices are listed on our Web site (www.adv-care.com) or you can call our customer service department toll free.