How we research
How we research medications, costs and pharmacy services
MediSearcher researches medication information, costs, prescription access, pharmacy services and healthcare providers using publicly available medical, regulatory, manufacturer and provider information.
Our aim is to make important information easier to investigate and compare. The exact research criteria depend on the type of page, medication, service and healthcare market being covered.
Last updated: October 2026
What we research
MediSearcher covers several different types of medication and pharmacy information. The sources and criteria we use therefore vary according to what a page is designed to help readers understand.
Medication information
Our medication reference pages may cover information such as medication uses, drug class, administration, formulations and strengths, prescription status, important safety information and other characteristics relevant to understanding a medication.
Medication information is intended for general reference and does not replace information supplied by a healthcare professional, regulator, manufacturer or official prescribing information.
Medication costs
Where relevant, we research publicly available information about medication prices, insurance considerations, manufacturer programs, pharmacy savings options, consultation costs and other expenses that may affect what a patient pays.
Some MediSearcher comparisons may also display pharmacy acquisition-cost benchmarks derived from publicly available government data. These figures represent pharmacy acquisition costs under the relevant dataset methodology; they are not retail prices, insurance copays or estimates of what an individual patient will pay.
Medication costs can vary substantially by dosage, quantity, insurance coverage, pharmacy, location and eligibility for particular savings programs.
Prescription & access requirements
We research how prescription access works in the relevant market, including prescription requirements, telehealth or consultation pathways, refill processes and other information that may affect access to a medication.
Pharmacy & provider credentials
When researching pharmacy or healthcare services, we look for publicly available information about pharmacy licensing or registration, healthcare providers, business identity, dispensing arrangements and other relevant credentials.
Users should verify current licensing or registration information with the appropriate regulator when this is important to their decision.
Pricing & fees
Where pricing is publicly available, we may review advertised medication prices, consultation costs, delivery charges, membership fees or other costs associated with a pharmacy or healthcare service.
Advertised prices may not represent the final amount paid and can change over time.
Availability & delivery
We may review publicly available information about medication availability, service areas, dispensing arrangements, shipping options, estimated delivery times and relevant handling requirements.
Availability and delivery information can change, particularly for medications experiencing high demand or supply constraints.
Provider transparency
For commercial healthcare and pharmacy services, we look for clear information about the organisation behind the service, including contact information, prescription processes, pricing, policies and other details that help users understand what is being offered.
Geographic context
Medication prices, insurance systems, prescription requirements, pharmacy services and delivery options can differ substantially between countries, states and regions. We identify the relevant geographic market where it materially affects the information presented.
We compare relevant factors rather than relying on a universal score
There is rarely a single answer to which medication, pharmacy or service is “best.” Relevant considerations can include the medication itself, individual circumstances, location, insurance, prescription requirements, availability, price and the type of service being compared.
Where MediSearcher compares medications or services, we aim to explain meaningful differences and the context in which they matter rather than reducing every option to a single numerical score or universal ranking.
The MediSearcher Medication Comparator does not select a winner or recommend which medication a person should use. Its purpose is to make reviewed factual differences easier to understand, explore and verify.
How we research our content
Depending on the subject, our research may use publicly available information from regulatory agencies, official prescribing information, medication manufacturers, government and public healthcare organisations, pharmacy and healthcare provider websites, insurers and other relevant sources.
For structured medication comparisons, MediSearcher may standardise information from multiple authoritative sources so equivalent facts can be compared consistently across medications. Source attribution and review information are retained so users can inspect the evidence behind important comparison points.
Where information cannot be established from the reviewed evidence, we aim to distinguish between information that has been verified, information that was not found in the reviewed sources, and information that is not applicable. Absence of information should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that something is not true.
We aim to distinguish between medical or regulatory information and commercial information supplied by a pharmacy, manufacturer or healthcare provider. Provider marketing claims are not treated as independent evidence simply because they appear on a provider website.
Where a page discusses prices, availability, insurance, savings programs, pharmacy services or delivery, this information may change over time. Relevant pages may therefore display a last-reviewed or last-updated date.
Time-sensitive information such as prices, insurance coverage, eligibility, medication availability, prescription requirements and provider terms should be confirmed with the responsible pharmacy, provider, manufacturer, insurer or regulator.
Editorial and commercial standards
Commercial relationships
MediSearcher may receive compensation when users follow certain links or complete qualifying actions with commercial partners.
Commercial relationships do not determine our editorial conclusions or the information presented in our research. An affiliate relationship should not be interpreted as an endorsement of a particular medication, pharmacy, healthcare provider or service.
Research, review & corrections
Our Editorial Policy explains MediSearcher’s approach to sourcing, editorial independence, review, updates, corrections and reviewer information.
Our methodology depends on what we are researching
Medication reference pages focus on general information about individual medications and their characteristics.
Medication Comparator brings reviewed structured information about two or three medications together in a consistent side-by-side format. Depending on the medications being compared, this may include active ingredients, approved uses, drug class, formulations and strengths, administration, prescription status, cost benchmarks and other relevant characteristics.
Comparator information is assembled from MediSearcher’s reviewed medication data rather than generated as a treatment recommendation. Key differences are presented first, while Explore provides additional context and Verify shows the sources and evidence supporting the information.
US cost and access guides focus on the US healthcare market, including medication costs, insurance, savings and prescription access.
Pharmacy and healthcare service guides may examine prescription requirements, credentials, dispensing arrangements, pricing, geographic availability and delivery.
Cross-border pharmacy guides may additionally consider dispensing location, international delivery and relevant regulatory or import information.
Pharmacy and healthcare service comparisons focus on differences that are relevant to the particular comparison rather than applying the same criteria mechanically to every subject.
A criterion that is important for one type of page may be irrelevant to another. For example, pharmacy delivery terms are relevant to a pharmacy service comparison but not to a general medication reference page.
About MediSearcher
The research and editorial framework is overseen by Mattias Hagman, PhD, founder and editor of MediSearcher.
Dr Hagman holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and has an academic background alongside experience working with healthcare-related content and regulated industries. He has lecturing experience at international universities, including Stockholm University and the University of Malta.
Learn more about the people, standards and purpose behind the site on our About MediSearcher page.
Medical information
Research information, not medical advice
MediSearcher provides general informational content and does not provide personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Prescription and treatment decisions should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Medication suitability can depend on an individual’s medical history, other medications, contraindications and other clinical considerations that cannot be determined from a general informational page.
Comparing medications on MediSearcher does not mean that the medications are interchangeable, equally appropriate for a particular condition or suitable alternatives for an individual patient.
If you believe information on MediSearcher is inaccurate, incomplete or outdated, please contact us and include the URL of the relevant page.