Knowing when to trust an online pharmacy
Publication Date:10/01/2008
Introduction
More than 2 million people in Britain now buy medicines on the internet. But how do you know you can trust an online site? Now you can check whether a website comes from a registered pharmacy, with a new logo scheme.
What do we know already?
Many perfectly legitimate pharmacies supply medicines over the internet. All pharmacies in Britain, including those which provide internet services, are registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). This is the association that oversees the training and regulation of pharmacists in Britain.
However, not all internet sites selling medicines are attached to registered pharmacies. Some sites have no qualified pharmacist overseeing the supply of medicines, which can be dangerous. This is especially true for sites that offer to sell prescription drugs without a prescription from a doctor. Legitimate pharmacies don't do this. There's no guarantee that drugs bought from an unregistered site will be good quality. They could even be fake or dangerous.
What does the new report say?
To make it easier for people to find out if a pharmacy website is registered, the RPSGB has launched a logo scheme. All registered pharmacies can display a logo on their home page, so you can see at a glance that they are reliable. The logo has a big green and white cross, with the words 'Registered Pharmacy' and a seven-digit registration number. The logo provides a link to the RPSGB website's registration page.
It's a voluntary scheme, so pharmacies don't have to take part. But if a pharmacy is displaying the logo, you can be reassured that they are registered with the society. The society recommends that people only use online pharmacies that display the logo.
What does this mean for me?
If you are one of the 7 in 100 internet users who buy medicines online, this is useful information. It will help you check that you are buying medicines from a registered, trained pharmacist.
What should I do now?
When you look at a pharmacy website, check that it has the Registered Pharmacy logo, and that the logo links to the RPSGB website. The RPSGB also recommends that you check the registration status of the pharmacist (you can do this from their website) and look for the name and address of the pharmacy operating the website. It should be a real address, not a PO Box. It also says you should avoid websites that offer prescription-only medicines without a prescription.
From:
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Millions risk health buying drugs online. Available at: http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/ (accessed on 10 January 2008).
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© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
