Buying Medical Devices from the Internet

It's Your Health

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The Issue

A growing number of Canadians are buying medical devices from the Internet. Many of the websites that sell medical devices are lawful businesses that provide a useful service. However, others sell devices that may present serious health risks, and some may take your money and send no product at all.

If you plan to buy a medical device over the Internet, there are steps you can take to minimize your risks and protect your health.

Background

There are nearly 1,800 generic types of medical devices on the Canadian market. They range from pacemakers to diagnostic kits (like pregnancy tests), contact lenses and condoms. Canada's Food and Drugs Act defines a medical device as any article, instrument or apparatus intended to diagnose, treat, manage or prevent disease or other health conditions.

All medical devices sold in Canada must meet the requirements of the Canadian Medical Devices Regulations. This helps make sure that the products are safe and effective when used as directed. There are four classes of medical devices. According to the Regulations, Class II, III and IV devices must be licensed before they can be sold in Canada. For more information on how medical devices are classified in Canada, see the link in the Need More Info section. Class I devices present a lesser risk and do not need a licence.

In general, you should use medical devices as part of an overall approach to health that is supervised by a doctor or other health care professional. Medical devices can help you maintain and improve your health, but they are not intended to replace professional health care.

The possible benefits of buying medical devices online include convenience, privacy and pricing. But buying these health products online can also present certain risks.

Risks of Buying Medical Devices from the Internet

If you buy a medical device from a website that is not trustworthy, any of the following could happen:

Other potential problems related to the online sale of medical devices include:

These situations could present the following risks to your health:

There is also a risk that some website operators will cheat you by taking your money and sending you nothing in return.

Minimizing Your Risk

Before you buy a medical device from the internet:

When making a purchase from the internet:

After you buy a medical device from the Internet (or elsewhere):

Health Canada's Role

Health Canada regulates the safety, effectiveness and quality of medical devices imported into and sold in Canada. This is done through a pre-market review (before product licensing is granted), and post-market surveillance of adverse events (after licensing). As part of this work, Health Canada monitors complaints about medical devices sold in Canada, and communicates safety information about medical devices to health care professionals and the public.

Need More Info?

To report problems with medical devices, visit Health Canada's Health Product and Food Branch inspectorate web section

For more information visit the following web pages:

For more articles on health and safety issues, go to the It's Your Health web section

You can also call toll free at 1-866-225-0709 or TTY at 1-800-465-7735*

Update: April 2011
Original: August 2006
©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2006

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