Buying medicines over the Internet

What medicines can be bought over the Internet?
The established way to obtain medicines is from a pharmacist. Increasingly, however, purchases are being made over the Internet.

Anyone contemplating purchasing what may be a prescription only medicine is strongly urged to consult his or her doctor, rather than purchase the medicine direct from an Internet supplier without a prescription.

It is important to take great care when buying medicines over the Internet, particularly if the medicine concerned would normally only be available from your high street pharmacy.

The main areas of concern relate to the fact that if buying prescription only medicines over the Internet:

• they need not have been prescribed by a healthcare professional;
• there may not be checks and controls on the quality and effectiveness of medicines supplied; and
• there may be no legal recourse in the event of problem

In the UK, medicines are categorised in various ways. They can be bought without restriction, which is known as ‘over-the-counter’, with advice and certain restrictions from a pharmacist and, where medicines are particularly potent, on prescription only. These medicines can be safely used only under the care and supervision of suitably qualified healthcare professionals, who are able to advise on potential side effects, interactions with other medicines and on safe dosages.

Where can I find out if a medicine is a prescription only medicine?
The best way is to check with your retail pharmacist.

Should I buy medicines over the Internet?
The Internet provides a channel for purchasing goods and services unrivalled in terms of access and convenience. It is being used by more and more people and is making a significant contribution to society.

In recent years, there has been an explosion of websites offering medicines for sale via the Internet. Many of these websites originate from outside the UK and are therefore not regulated by UK authorities. Purchasing Prescription only Medicines from unauthorised sources significantly increases the risk of obtaining substandard/fake medicines.

The Royal  Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is introducing a new logo which will be seen on the front page of participating online pharmacy sites. It is hoped that this will help people identify whether a website offering to sell medicines or provide other pharmacy services is connected to a registered pharmacy. By clicking on the logo visitors are linked to a page on the RPSGB website where they can make checks to ensure the site is a registered pharmacy.

Further information on the logo and its use can be found on the RPSGB's website.

Internet pharmacy is an area of rapid growth and it is recognised that the increased provision of internet pharmacy services undoubtedly improves patient access and choice of pharmacy services, the nature of the world wide web is such that some medicines are now readily available from online suppliers who have no professional qualifications or healthcare expertise. The policy of the RPSGB is that the public benefit from the opportunity for advice from a pharmacist when they have a medicine supplied.

The RPSGB’s Code of Ethics currently require that pharmacy websites display:

• the name of the owner of the business
• the address of the pharmacy at which the business is conducted
• the name of the Superintendent pharmacist where applicable
• details of how to confirm the registration status of the pharmacy and pharmacist.

Once widely rolled out it is intended that all registered pharmacy internet sites will be required to display the logo.

How can you allow prescription only medicines to be sold over the Internet?
Legal controls of medicines are in place in the European Community to safeguard the health of the public and to ensure the suitability of products for public consumption.

The Internet has no boundaries. When making purchases over the Internet it is difficult to know from where the product is being sourced – it could be anywhere. We can only regulate Internet sites that are based in the UK.

However, we still have concerns about the availability of medicines over the Internet, particularly prescription only medicines. This is because in many cases the people that offer prescription only medicines for sale over the Internet are not qualified healthcare professionals and may not require patients to present a prescription.

People who acquire medicines without the benefit of a consultation with an appropriate healthcare professional risk being supplied with medicines that are not safe or not suitable for them to use.

Prescription only medicines should only be taken in consultation with a healthcare professional. This is particularly important when you are simultaneously taking other medicines because interactions between medicines may cause side effects.

In addition any medicines, whether prescription only or not, if purchased over the Internet may not meet UK regulatory and quality standards. They may be past their ‘sell by date’ in which case their effectiveness will be reduced.

If purchases are made over the Internet, and, as is often the case sourced from outside the UK, patients have no legal or other recourse if the products are not effective or prove to be harmful.

Internet Days of Action
The MHRA have conducted three internet days of action which have resulted in co-ordinated activity against those websites most active within the UK suspected of breaches of medicine regulation, including counterfeit medicines. During this initiative the Agency has been accompanied by observers from European counterparts and the media in an effort to raise awareness of the increased risk in obtaining medicines from unlicensed websites operated by unqualified individuals supplying sub-standard products illegally.

What are you doing about it?
The MHRA Enforcement Team continually monitors Internet sites, especially those known to be selling prescription only medicines. Spot checks are made to see if the Internet sites selling prescription only medicines are based in the UK. If so, we are then able to take action; a number of prosecutions have taken place. We refer overseas sites to the appropriate regulatory body in that country.

In association with the UK government and with other regulatory and health bodies, we are working to ensure that there is proper guidance to support the safe purchase of medicines over the Internet. We are playing a key role in a Department of Health working party on the sale and supply of medicines in the UK which will determine the legal and proper way to buy medicines over the Internet. 

The above moves are intended to reconcile the increasing trend towards electronic commerce, including the growth of e-pharmacies supplying prescription only medicines, with the protection of patient safety and public health.