Ever tried filling a prescription on your lunch break, only to stand in a never-ending line? That’s the old way. If you’ve ever wondered whether ordering medicine online is safe, or if you’re just tired of racing to the pharmacy before it closes, you’re not alone. The digital health wave has washed over Canada, too, and Mednow.ca rides at the front of that tide. But how does this online pharmacy work—what’s actually different, and does it really save you time and money? Let’s break it all down, from real-world pros and cons to deal-hunting tips and safety checks so you can decide if Mednow.ca fits your life.
Mednow.ca calls itself “Canada’s Digital Pharmacy.” It promises to handle prescriptions, refills, virtual doctor visits, and over-the-counter meds with home delivery anywhere in Canada. What grabs attention is their same-day or next-day delivery in certain cities—seriously convenient if you’ve ever scrambled for antibiotics late at night. Mednow.ca was founded in 2019, so it’s still a fairly new player, but it’s quickly expanded across all ten provinces. The big idea is to bring pharmacy services to your couch—no waiting in line, less time in the car, and less hassle remembering refills.
One of the main attractions? No extra charge for delivery, at least on most prescription orders. The platform also lets you book private virtual consultations with pharmacists and even connect with licensed Canadian doctors when you need a new prescription. Their website lists everything clearly, and the app works for easy reorders, automatic reminders, and tracking shipment from pharmacy to your doorstep. Mednow.ca sells everyday pharmacy items as well, from children’s Tylenol to vitamins and skincare lines. Everything ships out of licensed brick-and-mortar partner pharmacies—so yes, a real Canadian pharmacist is actually filling your prescription every time.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, online pharmacies like Mednow saw a giant spike in users—according to analysis from McKinsey & Company, telehealth adoption in Canada shot from 10% to nearly 60% in 2020. People stuck at home realized how powerful digital health could be. Mednow leaned into that, and their user numbers jumped. The service sets itself apart by offering hands-on phone support, transparent pricing, and patient-centered features like medication packaging tailored for the elderly or chronic patients who need help remembering pills. In 2023, the company won the “Best Digital Health Solution” in the Canadian Innovation Awards, marking its growing reputation.
With Mednow.ca, there’s no membership fee or monthly subscription. The costs come from regular prescription drug prices and over-the-counter items. The platform processes insurance claims directly with most Canadian plans, and you can even upload a photo of your existing prescription to get started. This combination of convenience, low barriers, and wide service range is what’s driving more people to try digital pharmacies like Mednow.ca for the first time.
If you’re new to online pharmacies, the process can seem daunting at first. Mednow.ca actually makes it pretty easy, streamlining things step-by-step. You start by visiting their website or app, then choose the kind of prescription—or refill—you need. Their team can even contact your current doctor’s office or last pharmacy to transfer valid prescriptions directly, which might save you the awkward “Can you fax this?” call. If you need a new script or medical advice, you can book a virtual appointment with a Canadian doctor right through the platform.
Once your prescription is received, Mednow’s pharmacy team checks for drug interactions (pretty standard now), verifies details, and contacts you if there are any questions about your medication history—especially if you’re switching from another provider. They’ll then fill your prescription from one of their licensed facilities (generally closest to you to speed up delivery, like Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary). Most prescriptions can be delivered for free, same-day if you’re in select metro areas, or in 1-2 days for the rest of Canada. The order comes in plain packaging for privacy, and you'll get text/email tracking updates along the way.
Not sure what dose you need for that refill? Mednow’s pharmacists are available by phone or chat for anything from side effect questions to double-checking insurance coverage. If you take several medications each month, you can request “med packs”—daily pill packets organized by date and time, which is a lifesaver for folks managing multiple scripts or conditions like diabetes or heart disease. The company even provides reminder calls or app notifications so you won’t miss a dose—or a refill deadline. A neat feature: you can order refills automatically, set to your own schedule, so meds just show up before you run out.
It’s worth noting that Mednow.ca covers all the legal requirements of a regular pharmacy in your province. Prescriptions are only filled by licensed pharmacists using Health Canada-approved drugs—no loopholes or sketchy imports. ID verification steps keep things secure, and you will need to provide your provincial health card or insurance info for first-time orders. Of course, you can buy non-prescription items as well, but the big draw is how easy they make prescription management—one less thing to worry about each month.
For parents or caregivers, Mednow allows you to manage multiple family members from a single account, so you can fill a child’s antibiotics or get Mum’s high blood pressure meds delivered without setting up several logins. Their repeat delivery options and notifications are built with busy families in mind.
With any online pharmacy, you want safety to come first. Right up front: Mednow.ca only operates in Canada and obeys all the same rules regular pharmacies do, overseen by provincial regulatory bodies like the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Their physical partner pharmacies must meet rigorous Canadian standards for drug storage, record-keeping, and privacy—no overseas suppliers, no sourcing meds outside approved channels.
User privacy is protected under Canada’s strict healthcare privacy laws (like PIPEDA), so you won’t find your health info floating around the web. Mednow’s platform uses bank-grade encryption—the same stuff banks use—to protect every order, message, or upload. Only the relevant pharmacy staff and professionals have access to your records, and you can request a record of what data is stored at any time. All prescriptions are filled—but not delivered—by a licensed pharmacist, so you have the option to speak to a pro and get advice before and after every fill. No automated robots, no leaving you hanging on urgent health questions.
For folks who remember the 2017 CBC exposé on fake pharmacies that sent counterfeit meds, it’s good to know Mednow.ca has third-party verifications and publishes its licensing info publicly for every pharmacy it uses. The company is an accredited member of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy and supports the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) standards. You can even check their status on pharmacy verification platforms like CIPA (Canadian International Pharmacy Association) for extra peace of mind.
Medication storage and transport is another question—ever had your pills turn up after a week in the sun? Mednow promises to ship temperature-sensitive meds in insulated packaging and uses tracked couriers for most urban deliveries. For particularly fragile meds—like certain injectable treatments—they notify you ahead of time and use solutions like climate-controlled delivery, which metro areas like Toronto or Vancouver can support. They’ll pause shipping if the weather is too hot or cold for the medicine, and work with you to reschedule. These little details make a big difference for people with complex or temperature-sensitive scripts.
Below is a quick table giving an idea of Mednow.ca’s key safety and privacy measures versus a traditional pharmacy:
| Feature | Mednow.ca | Traditional Pharmacy |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist Consult | Yes (virtual/live) | Yes (in-person) |
| Prescription Verification | Required | Required |
| Personal Data Encryption | Bank-level | Store-specific |
| Tracked Delivery | Yes, most areas | No |
| Family Account Options | Yes | No |
| Automatic Reminders | App/email/phone | Some, mostly phone |
People often worry online pharmacies are way pricier, but Mednow.ca’s prices tend to match what you’d pay at a chain pharmacy, since drug prices in Canada are government-regulated. Prescription drug costs are set by provincial formularies, and most insurance plans work the same online as in stores. Mednow handles claims processing and even lets you upload an image of your benefits card to make things easier. You can also pay privately with a credit card if you aren’t insured, and you’ll see your out-of-pocket cost before you check out—no last-minute billing surprises.
For over-the-counter items and non-prescription health products, prices can fluctuate a bit more. Mednow sometimes offers extra savings or coupons to first-time users. Look out for special discounts tied to awareness months (like Pink October for breast cancer support, or World Diabetes Day with reduced blood sugar test kits), and take advantage of “bundle” deals if you regularly order vitamins or chronic-illness supplies. Joining their email list often gets you a promo code off your first purchase—so don’t miss that box at signup.
Another bonus: if you or someone you care for takes several meds each month, Mednow’s free customized “med packs” and automatic refills can save money over missing doses and extra pharmacy runs. In the long run, these add-ons help keep you on track and catch issues earlier, which lowers healthcare costs and keeps insurance providers happy. Their system flags duplicate prescriptions and drug interactions automatically, which classic paper-based pharmacies sometimes miss.
Sometimes you need a script ASAP. Mednow’s same-day delivery service in bigger Canadian cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax) runs from $5 to $10 for rush orders, but basic shipping is nearly always free. For rural communities, delivery can take an extra day, so plan ahead if you need refills before a holiday or if bad weather is coming. Real-life tip: set your script refill reminder a week early so you’re never caught short before a long weekend.
Want to compare prices before switching? You can check prescription prices on Mednow.ca using their quote tool, or call the support line to confirm total costs for your specific drugs—something many chain pharmacies don’t offer transparently online. And unlike some U.S.-based or overseas pharmacies, Mednow never asks for payment before confirming your prescription is valid and your insurance has cleared. This keeps scams at bay and builds trust. Below you’ll find a quick look at how some of the most common prescriptions stack up on Mednow.ca versus national averages (2025 data):
| Medication | Mednow.ca Price* (with insurance) | Canadian Average (in-store) |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin (30 tabs) | $7.80 | $8.00 |
| Metformin (60 tabs) | $12.50 | $13.10 |
| Insulin Glargine (Pen, 5) | $95.00 | $96.50 |
| Amoxicillin (21 tabs) | $15.20 | $15.00 |
*Prices vary by insurance, province, and supply chain.
Word on the street? Reviews for Mednow.ca mostly highlight two things: the sheer convenience, and friendly phone support. Working parents and seniors mention feeling more in control of their medications, especially those who have struggled with in-store pharmacy hours (try finding an open pharmacy on a public holiday in the bush). College students with new diagnoses like ADHD or anxiety report that booking with a telehealth doctor for a refill saves a heap of anxiety and hassle. Others point out that getting actual pharmacist advice—by phone, at 9pm—is a major step up from phone tags and busy local counters.
Like any service, things aren’t perfect for everyone. Sometimes people in remote rural towns see a 2-3 day wait for deliveries, and if a medication is backordered nationwide (not just online pharmacies), delays happen. Some users in Quebec have reported insurance claim hiccups due to local pharmacy networks—though that’s improving as Mednow.ca expands. What’s consistent: Mednow team members are responsive, and they’ll track down missing shipments or solve prescription errors by phone or chat (not just a generic email).
If you’re thinking about using an online pharmacy, try these tips to get the smoothest ride:
Online pharmacies like Mednow.ca have made getting medicine as hassle-free as ordering a pizza. Sure, there are situations where walking into your local chemist is still the answer (especially for an urgent consult or walk-in vaccine), but for refills, chronic meds, or families juggling school and work, a digital option like Mednow offers speed, privacy, and real cost savings. Just being able to reorder with a tap—and know a real Canadian pharmacist has your back—takes a lot of stress out of staying healthy.
Written by Diana Fieldstone
View all posts by: Diana Fieldstone