regulatorydefence

Following a BBC investigation a prominent pharmacist has highlighted the dangers of easily obtaining prescription-only medicines from online pharmacies, often risking patients’ lives due to the absence of stringent checks. Investigative efforts reveal 20 online pharmacies selling restricted online prescription drugs without essential verifications, allowing the purchase of over 1,600 prescription-only pills through fabricated information. The General Pharmaceutical Council (‘GPC’) insists on more rigorous measures for certain drugs sold online.

Thorrun Govind, a pharmacist and former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, emphasises the dire landscape of online medicine procurement, citing incidents where patients have succumbed due to inadequate safety protocols. While online pharmacies offer convenience, some enable the acquisition of prescription-only drugs by employing qualified pharmacist prescribers to sign off on the online purchase.

Tragic incidents, like the death of Katie Corrigan, highlight the ramifications of lax regulations. Katie’s addiction to painkillers led to her procuring medicines online without her GP’s knowledge. The subsequent coroner’s report underscored inadequate safety controls and the necessity for heightened background checks by online pharmacies.

The BBC’s investigation exposed glaring loopholes in online pharmacies’ adherence to safety guidelines. While regulations mandate comprehensive patient information for safe medication, high-risk drugs like those involved in Katie’s case continue to be available without stringent verifications. Despite some pharmacies refusing sales without medical records or GP consent, others facilitated purchases based solely on online questionnaires, even promoting potentially addictive medications through marketing emails, contravening GPC directives.

Katie’s case, and many others like it, amplify the urgency for tighter controls as individuals are seemingly able to bypass safety checks to procure medications online, often falsifying information. The absence of stringent verification procedures raises significant concerns regarding patient safety and the potential adverse effects of such easily accessible prescription drugs.

Regulatory Defence urges all GPC registrants to ensure that their actions are always in line with the standards set by the GPC. If you are involved with dispensing online prescriptions, either directly or indirectly, and have any questions or require any legal advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.