Warning over buying drugs online
Purchasing prescription medicines online without a prescription is on the increase, pharmacists said.
Three-quarters of pharmacists believe the activity has become more commonplace in recent years, according to a poll by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
Almost half of 650 pharmacists surveyed said a customer had admitted buying medicine in this way.
Many thought people were opting to buy the medicines online to alleviate embarrassment, to access treatments quickly, or to self-medicate.
The news comes as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that in the past five years, officials have seized more than £34 million worth of medicine supplied illegally.
A group of health organisations have launched the Real Danger campaign to raise awareness about the risks of buying prescription medicines online through unregulated channels without a prescription.
Officials warned that unlicensed or fake medicines could contain harmful ingredients such as arsenic and could potentially be lethal.
Neal Patel, of the RPS, said: “These are worrying statistics and it’s clear from our members that patients are still unaware of the potential risks associated with purchasing medicines online from unregulated or unverified websites.
“Some of these illegal sites are very professional and look like legitimate online pharmacies, but supply dangerous fakes or unlicensed medicines that have serious health implications.
“Our advice is clear; always buy medicines in person or online from a genuine UK bricks and mortar based pharmacy.”
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