Pharmacy regulator sets safety rules for online drug purchases | Policy

New rules to protect people from the dangers of buying inappropriate drugs in online pharmacies and to regulate access to addictive medicines have been put in place by the pharmaceutical regulator.

This development comes as the use of online pharmacies has rapidly increased in recent years, while websites calling on doctors from companies based outside of England have also been raised.

The new guarantees announced Tuesday by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) include:

• require pharmacy websites not to allow a patient to choose a prescription drug and its quantity before proper consultation has taken place.

• ensure that pharmacy staff can identify inappropriate medication requests, including identifying multiple orders at the same address.

• put in place robust processes for controlling the identity of people who obtain drugs.

Additional safeguards will also need to be in place before providing a range of drug clbades, including antibiotics, non-surgical cosmetic drugs such as Botox, and drugs known to be susceptible to abuse and abuse. or abuse, or where there is a risk of dependency. .

Duncan Rudkin, Executive Director of the GPC, said, "People can be seriously at risk if they can afford medications that do not suit them.

"We are implementing this updated directive with additional safeguards to protect people.

The GPC cited an online study commissioned by YouGov, which found that 25% of respondents said they could use online pharmacies in the future, but that 50% of those who did not fear for the safety of these pharmacies pharmacies.

Rudkin added, "I strongly encourage patients and the public wishing to obtain medication online to use only online pharmacies registered with our company, in order to protect their health. These pharmacies must meet our standards and comply with these guidelines to provide safe and effective services. We will inspect pharmacies to make sure that is the case. "

In the context of Brexit, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the NHS England have recently been criticized for giving little practical advice to English patients about what they could do about it. they could not get their usual medicines.