regulatorydefence

Following a BBC investigation, a prominent pharmacist has highlighted the dangers of easily obtaining prescription-only medicines from online pharmacies. These practices often risk patients’ lives due to a lack of stringent checks. Investigators found 20 online pharmacies selling restricted prescription drugs without essential verifications. This oversight allowed the purchase of over 1,600 prescription-only pills using fabricated information.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) insists on implementing 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. She cites incidents where patients have died due to inadequate safety protocols. While online pharmacies provide convenience, some enable the acquisition of prescription-only drugs. They employ qualified pharmacist prescribers to sign off on these online purchases, raising further concerns.

Tragic incidents, such as the death of Katie Corrigan, highlight the dire ramifications of lax regulations. Katie struggled with addiction to painkillers and procured medicines online without informing her GP. The coroner’s report underscored the need for improved safety controls and stricter background checks by online pharmacies.

The BBC’s investigation exposed glaring loopholes in online pharmacies’ adherence to safety guidelines. Although regulations mandate comprehensive patient information for safe medication distribution, high-risk drugs remain available without stringent verifications. While some pharmacies refuse sales without medical records or GP consent, others facilitate purchases based solely on online questionnaires. Alarmingly, some even promote potentially addictive medications through marketing emails, which contravenes GPC directives.

Katie’s case and many others amplify the urgency for tighter controls. Individuals can seemingly bypass safety checks to procure medications online, often falsifying information in the process. The absence of stringent verification procedures raises significant concerns about patient safety and the potential adverse effects of easily accessible prescription drugs.

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