Internet Pharmacy Logo Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. What are the dangers of buying prescription drugs online?
2. Are there any benefits to having access to treatments online?
3. How common is the purchase of medicines over the internet. Are there any stats?
4. How will the new logo help to regulate this practice?
5. What was the thinking behind the logo? Why are the RPSGB involved?
6. How can patients identify legitimate pharmacy websites?
7. Are patients assured safety when they see the logo? Is there any worry that the logo
9. What information does a website have to provide the RPSGB to obtain the logo?
10. How are pharmacy services regulated? Are there standards that pharmacists must
11. Tell me a little about the pilot. How many sites participated?
12. What are the most common types of drugs bought over the internet?
13. What risks does the public face if they purchase medicines from websites that are not
15. Does the RPSGB recommend buying medicines over the internet?
16. What message does the RPSGB have for people considering obtaining drugs from
17. What is the RPSGB hoping will come from the logo?
18. If a healthcare professional abroad makes an incorrect supply of a medicine within
19. Is the scheme compulsory for all genuine pharmacies operating on the web? If not,
21. How many pharmacies are currently registered with the scheme?
22. Is the logo recognised by search engines such as Google?
23. What do I do if I have concerns over a website?
1. What are the dangers of buying prescription drugs online?
While a number of legitimate registered pharmacies provide online pharmacy services, the
trading opportunities of the internet has also resulted in medicines being readily available
from online suppliers who have no professional qualifications or healthcare expertise. Many of
these illegal websites offer to supply prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription.
This means that members of the public may acquire medicines without the benefit of a
consultation with an appropriate healthcare professional and risk being supplied medicines
that are not safe or suitable for them. The safety and quality of products being sold by
unqualified internet suppliers cannot be guaranteed. The medicines may be counterfeit,
Enquires received by the RPSGB, other regulators and consumer groups indicate that there
appears to be a great deal of confusion about the regulation of internet pharmacies and that
the public are unsure how to distinguish between registered online pharmacies and other
2. Are there any benefits to having access to treatments online?
When used safely and appropriately, online access to medicines and healthcare advice can
offer benefits to patients. The greatest benefit for many individuals obtaining medicines and
other healthcare services via the internet is convenience. The internet should not replace
necessary face-to-face consultation with appropriate healthcare professionals, but it can
provide quick and easy access to health information or medicines and help patients identify
when further consultation with a healthcare professional may be required. It can offer the
elderly, the disabled and patients living in remote areas or working long hours increased
access to the pharmaceutical information, products and services they require. The internet
can provide anonymity to users, allowing people to access advice or products that they may
otherwise be reluctant to approach their prescriber or pharmacist for.
3. How common is the purchase of medicines over the internet. Are there any stats?
Research by the RPSGB reveals that over 2.25 million people buy prescription medicines
online. With up to a third of medicines purchased online estimated to be counterfeit, the
internet presents a real danger to people’s health.
The research also reveals that almost a third of people admit to not having a clue about online
regulations. In the UK, although internet users seem to be more clued up about the lack of
regulation of overseas websites, until now there has been no real way for people to verify the
authenticity of the online pharmacy and the medicines that are being sold.
It’s estimated that the global counterfeit medicines market is worth £20bn a year, and
between 50 and 90% of medicines in some African and Asian countries are counterfeit.
Almost 60% of all spam sent across the internet is in relation to medicines and it’s estimated
that half of medicines from websites that conceal their physical address are fake. In fact, the
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seizes more than £3m worth
4. How will the new logo help to regulate this practice?
One of the main concerns around the supply of medicines via the internet is that members of
the public are often unsure how to distinguish between websites which are operated by a
registered pharmacy and those which operate illegally. Patients may believe they are
purchasing medicines from a registered healthcare professional, when in fact the supplier has
no professional qualifications or healthcare expertise. The new logo is designed to help the
public identify whether a specific website is linked to a bona fide, registered pharmacy or not.
The logo not only provides a visual means to help patients identify whether a website is
connected to a registered pharmacy, but it also provides a direct link to the Society’s website
so that by clicking on the logo, visitors can verify the registration details of both the pharmacy
The new logo is part of a wider initiative by the RPSGB to help educate the public about the
dangers of using websites that are not operated by registered pharmacies.
5. What was the thinking behind the logo? Why are the RPSGB involved?
As the use of the internet has increased, there has been growing concern that members of
the public may not be aware that not all websites offering to sell medicines are operated by
From a patient safety perspective it is of paramount importance that members of the public
who want to purchase medicines over the internet do so from a website operated from a
Dodgy dealers are selling medicines online. They have no relevant professional qualifications
or healthcare expertise. The products they sell can be poor quality at best and dangerous at
worst. The medicines they sell can be counterfeit, substandard or unapproved new drugs,
The RPSGB is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in Great Britain, and one
of its goals is to make Britain the safest place to take medicines. In achieving this goal, we
feel it is necessary to highlight the dangers of buying medicines from illegitimate sites and to
assist members of the public in identifying registered pharmacy premises who are offering
professional services over the internet.
6. How can patients identify legitimate pharmacy websites?
The RPSGB has produced an Internet Pharmacy Logo that acts as a visual aid for members
of the public who want to buy medicines online. It can only be displayed by bona fide
registered pharmacies providing professional services in Great Britain.
This logo should be used in combination with several other checks as follows:
• Check the registration status of the pharmacist • Look for the name and address of the pharmacy operating the website (it should be
connected to a genuine “bricks and mortar” pharmacy)
• Avoid websites that offer to supply prescription-only medicines without a prescription
(it is not legal in Great Britain, and it is not safe)
• Observe whether you are asked questions before purchasing your medicine or not
(registered pharmacies are required to check that a medicine is suitable for a patient
to use before selling it – it’s a form of online consultation with a health professional)
7. Are patients assured safety when they see the logo? Is there any worry that the logo could be copied?
As with many logos found on the internet, there may be potential for the Internet Pharmacy
Logo to be copied. This is why it is of paramount importance that members of the public
undertake the additional checks as described above. The use of the word ‘pharmacy’ on the
logo has specifically been included – this is a protected title. Any person who is found to be
using the logo illegitimately could be the subject of legal proceedings by the RPSGB. In
addition, if they are supplying medicines unlawfully, they are likely to be the subject of other
The use of the title 'pharmacy' is restricted under section 78 Medicines Act 1968. Any person
using the title in an unauthorised manner may be committing a criminal offence and if so is
8. Who can apply for use of the logo?
All retail pharmacies in Great Britain, including those providing internet services, must be
registered with the RPSGB. Only websites operated from registered pharmacies can display
the Internet Pharmacy Logo. It is not compulsory for registered online pharmacies to display
the logo on their website, but we believe by doing so this will assure confidence in the safety
of medicines purchased online by the public.
9. What information does a website have to provide the RPSGB to obtain the logo?
The applicant must either be the pharmacy owner or the superintendent pharmacist. They
must provide details about their registration and also complete a self assessment form for
their internet pharmacy services. In addition they must comply with the conditions of use for
10. How are pharmacy services regulated? Are there standards that pharmacists must comply with?
The RPSGB has a team of inspectors who undertake the routine monitoring and inspection of
all pharmacy premises including those that provide internet pharmacy services. Monitoring of
internet pharmacy sites is also undertaken via the inspectorate.
Pharmacists must also comply with the Society’s Code of Ethics which sets out the standards
of conduct, practice and performance expected of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the Code could put a pharmacist or pharmacy
technician’s registration at risk. One of the principles of the Code of Ethics is to ‘Make the
care of patients your first concern’. In addition, the Society has developed professional
standards and guidance documents to supplement the requirements of the Code. One of
these documents, Professional Standards and Guidance for Internet Pharmacy Services
expands on the principles of the Code of Ethics to set out the professional responsibilities for
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are involved in the sale and supply of medicines
11. Tell me a little about the pilot. How many sites participated?
We piloted the logo in early 2007. In total 20 pharmacies across Great Britain were involved.
The pilot was successful, and highlighted areas of the application process that could be
strengthened. In addition, the participant’s views were sought on how successful they felt the
12. What are the most common types of drugs bought over the internet? PROZAC - A pack of 30 tablets costs £20 from online pharmacies. More than 3.5 million
people in Britain take antidepressants, with Prozac among the most widely prescribed of its
type. There have also been reports of club-goers "self-medicating" with Prozac to counter the
come down from taking ecstasy. In 2003, 81 deaths were attributed to overdoses of these
types of drugs and there have been reports of these causing some people to commit suicide.
VIAGRA - About £50 for four genuine tablets. Viagra nets more than £1bn a year for Pfizer
and many more millions for the thousands of counterfeit copies that are available. While
genuine, branded Viagra tablets will cost around £10, fakes are available for as little as £2
each. Doctors are concerned that it has also become a "clubbers’ drug" with people mixing it
with illegal substances such as ecstasy despite warnings that it can carry risks of heart
VALIUM - About £50 for 30 tablets online. Recently, doctors have begun reporting a rise in
the number of young women using the relaxant to sleep after taking cocaine or
amphetamines. They are buying it online or obtaining it through the same dealers selling them
illegal drugs. The Priory Hospital in Roehampton estimates that up to one in 10 patients at its
addiction centre is now hooked on Valium.
RITALIN - About £20 for 60 tablets. It has a chemical formula similar to cocaine and because
it is an appetite suppressant, young girls and teenagers have been known to take it to keep
SEROSTIM - About £6 for one injection. It is used to help build up the strength of Aids
patients who suffer debilitating weight loss. Body builders are buying it online to bulk out
muscle and it also enables them to recover faster from work-outs. Women are even injecting
it in an effort to combat the effects of ageing and there have been reports of people in the film
industry using it to make their skin look tighter and younger.
PROVIGIL - About £90 for 30 tablets online. Provigil is marketed as a treatment for
narcolepsy, a condition that causes excessive sleepiness and can make it impossible for
people to stay awake. Suggestions that it could also help boost weight loss and mood have
made it even more popular. Clubbers are using it to keep partying through the night, while
businessman are buying it to help them through long days in the office, and students are
13. What risks does the public face if they purchase medicines from websites that are not connected to registered pharmacies?
Those operating illegal websites supplying medicines have no relevant professional
qualifications or healthcare expertise. The products they sell can be poor quality at best and
dangerous at worst. The medicines they sell can be counterfeit, substandard or unapproved
new drugs, which can put the public at risk. Pharmacists are experts in medicines.
Pharmacists assess the suitability of a particular medicine for each individual patient –
excluding the pharmacist from involvement in the supply of medicines has the potential for
severe consequences for patient safety, including serious side effects, or in extreme cases,
14. What is the Internet Pharmacy Logo?
The RPSGB has developed an Internet Pharmacy Logo so the public can easily distinguish a
safe and legitimate site to buy medicines. The logo – a voluntary scheme – displays the
pharmacy’s individual registration number. When the logo is clicked the user will be directed
to a page on the RPSGB website which confirms the registration details of that pharmacy.
The logo should be used in conjunction with additional checks in order to identify legitimate
15. Does the RPSGB recommend buying medicines over the internet?
We would recommend buying medicines over the internet only where these are purchased
from a registered pharmacy (in Great Britain) providing online pharmacy services. When
obtaining medicines over the internet, using a registered pharmacy (& one displaying the logo
will help to ensure that those medicines obtained are safe and of high quality). There will be
occasions where a face to face consultation will be needed, but you will be advised of this if
you are seeking advice, information or purchasing medicines from a website operated from a
16. What message does the RPSGB have for people considering obtaining drugs from the internet?
Make sure you are buying your medicines from a registered pharmacy. Make the appropriate
additional checks. Visit the RPSGB website, www.internetpharmacylogo.org, for more
17. What is the RPSGB hoping will come from the logo?
It is clear from research that the majority of the public simply aren’t aware that many internet
suppliers of medicines are not legitimate. The RPSGB want to raise awareness of this
problem, and encourage the public to ensure they use a genuine pharmacy in Great Britain.
We want to make it safer for the public to buy medicines online and make it clear where they
can receive high quality medicines and professional advice. The aim is not to dissuade
the public from obtaining medicines over the internet but to do so safely.
18. If a healthcare professional abroad makes an incorrect supply of a medicine within whose jurisdiction does this fall?
The RPSGB is responsible for the regulation of pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales.
Pharmacists making errors or practicing unethically abroad are subject to the regulatory
bodies in their respective countries. We would always encourage people to purchase their
medicines from a registered pharmacy in Great Britain. The safest way to do this is by looking
for the new Internet Pharmacy Logo and making the other background checks we have
identified in order to ensure the pharmacy is legitimate.
19. Is the scheme compulsory for all genuine pharmacies operating on the web? If not, how do they become involved?
The scheme is voluntary and is open to pharmacies in England, Scotland and Wales.
Genuine pharmacies operating online will apply to the RPSGB in order to register with the
scheme. The applicant must either be the pharmacy owner or the superintendent pharmacist.
They must provide details about their registration and also complete a self-assessment form
for their internet pharmacy services. In addition they must comply with the conditions of use
20. Is there a cost attached?
There is a registration fee payable for the administration of the scheme. The charge covers
the cost of registering the website with the Society, background checks, creation of the
individual logo and the ongoing administration of the scheme.
• £50 annual fee, payable from 1 April 2009
21. How many pharmacies are currently registered with the scheme?
There are currently 47 pharmacies registered throughout Great Britain with 19 registrations
being processed. The RPSGB expects this figure to increase significantly over the next 12
22. Is the logo recognised by search engines such as Google?
The logo is not currently recognised by search engines however we are working to rectify this
23. What do I do if I have concerns over a website?
If you have concerns about a website that is supplying medicines and the website is not
operated by a registered pharmacy premises in Great Britain, please contact:
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
If you have concerns about a pharmacy or pharmacist registered in Great Britain or would like
further information about the internet pharmacy logo, please contact:
RPSGB Legal and Ethical Advisory Service
If you have a query about the registration status of a pharmacy or pharmacist, please contact:
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