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Your Guide to Buying Prescription Drugs Online in the UK

There’s no denying that the internet plays an integral part in our lives – from communicating on social media and discovering the latest news and trends in the world to searching for an individual health insurance plan, and much more.

But what’s truly impressive about the internet is that with just a few clicks you can easily obtain medical information, and even find medication to help treat health problems. But there’s a catch, with the convenience of buying medications online comes the importance of staying safe and secure.

In this Pacific Prime UK guide, we provide you with tips for staying safe and secure when buying medicines online. We will also look at the risks and what you should look for when purchasing medication on the Internet.

Individual health insurance blog

Buying Prescription Drugs Online

According to the Pharmaceutical Journal, around 15,500 falsified medicine packs were found in the UK’s authorised medicines supply chain over the past two years. This finding raises concerns for people who use the internet to acquire medication for their needs.

There are many reasons why people choose the Internet over the conventional visit to the pharmacy, such as convenience, better savings and cost and also to avoid embarrassment. Although these reasons make sense, it is important to watch out for red flags when buying prescription drugs online.

The concern with buying medicines over the internet in the UK is that many websites selling medicines online originate from outside the UK and are not regulated by UK authorities. This puts UK buyers at risk of being supplied with medicines unsuitable for consumption.

What Are the Risks of Buying Prescription Drugs Over the Internet?

Associated risks of buying prescription drugs online range from worsening health conditions, to getting scammed and engaging in fraudulent activities. If you are looking to buy medicines online, please take these risks into consideration before making any purchase.

  • Medication could make your condition worse: Taking medicines that you have ordered online from an unregistered source could cause other medicines you are already taking to not work – or could even worsen an existing known or unknown health condition.
  • Unregulated medication: Due to an absence of control over the quality and safety of medicines supplied online, there is a risk of not knowing what the drug actually contains. Counterfeit medicines may contain harmful ingredients or inappropriate portions of active ingredients – or no active ingredient at all.
  • Payment card cloning and identity theft: Falling victim to a scam, having your identity stolen or your payment card cloned can be distressing. This is a risk across all online platforms but is more commonly seen for prescription drug websites. Be sure to opt for safe and trusted online pharmacies to ensure payments are done securely.
  • Spyware, phishing and other viruses from fraudulent websites: Buying medication through an unregistered website is a risk not worth taking. It could be a fraudulent website that is designed to cost you financially. According to UK Finance, online scams are responsible for 36% of a whopping GBP £1.2 billion in 2022.

How Do You Know If a Website Is Safe to Buy Prescription Drugs From?

Firstly, it’s best to see your GP before buying medicines online as they know your medical history and can advise you whether the medicine would be suitable.

(Note: If you need to register with a GP, you can read our guide on finding a GP in the UK to help you get started. This applies to locals and expats with residence permits.)

If you choose to buy medicines online, you have to find out whether the online pharmacy is legit. You can do so by ensuring that:

Other ways to stay safe and secure when buying medication online include:

Look for the distance selling logo

Look for this logo when browsing on the Internet. It is a clickable logo that takes users to the online medicine seller registry, which displays the pharmacy’s Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) company number and registered address.

The MHRA regulates medicines, medical and blood components for transfusion in the UK. By referring to the MHRA page, you can rest assured that the website is trusted and offers products and services that are in line with the UK’s regulations. See Lloyds Pharmacy’s credentials and registered details.

(Note: Online auction sites or buy-and-sell sites are not usually licensed to sell medication. If the owner of the website is trying to sell prescription medication who is not a pharmacist, he/she is breaking the law.)

Ensure the website is secure

It is important to check that the website is secure by looking for the padlock symbol in the address bar. This means any personal information like your name, address, bank account details and so forth, will be encrypted.

Be cautious during the process of obtaining medication online

With a registered online pharmacy, it’s standard to ask for a valid prescription from your GP before dispensing your medication. Alternatively, an in-house doctor at the pharmacy should go through a consultation to provide you with a prescription before dispensing.

If you receive neither a request nor a consultation, then chances are the online pharmacy shouldn’t be trusted and avoided. Always check the credibility and legitimacy of online pharmacy websites. Ensure they are registered and display the right features to show they are registered.

Where to Buy Online Medication in the UK

For a full list of pharmacies, you can head to the NHS website for internet pharmacies. From there, you can search and call the pharmacy near you to speak to a pharmacist or general manager. They can help guide you on how to safely and securely access their products and services via their website.

Learn More from Pacific Prime UK

Buying prescription drugs from an unregistered website is risky. It is preferred to have drugs bought from authorised and trusted websites and protect yourself with health insurance.

At Pacific Prime UK, we provide useful information for your reference and compare the prices of insurance plans. Contact our advisors today to learn more about what we do as a health broker and discover the different types of plans available, such as maternity insurance, travel insurance and more.

Feel free to visit our blog too! We cover a range of topics related to health, such as mental well-being, employee health benefits, up-to-date information on the UK healthcare system and more.

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Content Creator at Pacific Prime UK
Eric is an experienced content writer specializing in writing creative copies of marketing materials including social media posts, advertisements, landing pages, and video scripts.

Since joining Pacific Prime, Eric was exposed to a new world of insurance. Having learned about insurance products extensively, he has taken joy and satisfaction in helping individuals and businesses manage risks and protect themselves against financial loss through the power of words.

Although born and raised in Hong Kong, he spent a quarter of his life living and studying in the UK. He believes his multicultural experience is a great asset in understanding the needs and wants of expats and globe-trotters.

Eric’s strengths lie in his strong research, analytical, and communication skills, obtained through his BA in Linguistics from the University of York and MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Bristol.

Outside of work, he enjoys some me-time gaming and reading on his own, occasionally going absolutely mental on a night out with friends.
Eric Chung