By James Davies, RPS Director for England
If you buy medicines online it’s important to understand the best way to buy them safely so you know you’re getting genuine and effective medicines. This guide gives you the tips you need to make safe and smart decisions when buying medicines on the internet. It covers how to find trustworthy online pharmacies, understand prescription guidelines and steer clear of fake medicines.
Choosing a trustworthy pharmacy website
Ensure the pharmacy is registered: When buying medicines always check the pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, the profession’s regulator, so you know it’s a trusted website. Visit the Pharmacy Regulation Register to do a simple search.
Search for official logos: Trustworthy pharmacy sites will have a logo (shown below) that when clicked on takes you to the pharmacy register on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Make sure you can see a physical address and phone number: Always verify that you can contact the pharmacy for any enquiries or problems; if not, it could be a warning sign. The pharmacy’s name, address and phone number should be easily visible.
If you have doubts about the credibility of a website selling medicines online, inform the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) through their reporting website.
Understanding prescription requirements
Got a prescription? Before an online pharmacy can provide you with a prescription-only medicine, they need to have a prescription. This can come in the form of a physical document from a GP or another prescribing healthcare professional, or a digital prescription from the prescriber. Some sites combine the prescribing service and the supply of the medication. If this is the case, it should always be clear who is prescribing the medication. It is against the law for websites to provide you with a prescription only medicine without a prescription.
Avoid risking your health
Never try to buy a prescription-only medicine without a prescription. The medicine may not be safe for you and could cause side effects or seriously risk your health. Keep in mind that trustworthy websites will do everything they can to keep you safe by asking you questions about your condition, including what other medicines you may be taking and if they can share the information with your GP.
Steering clear of unsafe practices
Beware of counterfeit medicines: Buying from sources you can’t check out is highly risky. The medicines you receive could be fake and pose serious health risks.
Delete spam emails and ignore social posts promoting cheap medicines, if something seems too good to be true it usually is.
Consult a healthcare professional: Talk to a pharmacist about your medicines, or any worries you have about them. Pharmacists have five years’ training in medicines and are experts who will provide you with the best advice about your medicines and how to take them safely.
Read the NHS guidance for additional tips on buying medicines safely online.
Read more RPS blogs.