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Letters to the Editor
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Internet sites
Dispensed medicines appear to be being sold
From Mr R. A. Croker, MRPharmS
While browsing a well-known internet auction site, I noticed that one
of the items recommended to me was nicotine replacement therapy. When
I entered “nicotine replacement therapy” into the site’s
search engine, it came up with several items, including prescription-only
medicines, such as a Nicorette Inhalator. The various auctions included
comments such as “my local chemist is selling them at £9.99
a box so you know you’re getting a bargain”. My primary care
trust has concerns that some of these products are being supplied via
primary care prescribing or through smoking cessation clinics, sometimes
without charge to patients who are then selling them on through these
sites.
I wonder if the Royal Pharmaceutical Society could explain whether such
internet sales, from UK sellers, are lawful and, if not, what steps it
is taking to try to prevent further sales from taking place.
Richard Croker
Head of Prescribing and Medicines Management
North Devon Primary Care Trust
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MANDIE LAVIN, director of fitness to practise and legal affairs,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society, replies:
The sale of pharmacy and prescription
only medicines via the internet as outlined by Mr Croker would not
comply with Medicines Act legislation. GSL medicines can be sold via
the internet
from non-pharmacy premises, but the practice of selling GSL medicines
that have been supplied to a patient against an NHS prescription or
via
local NHS health initiatives does raise concern. The Society does
not have regulatory authority over the sale of medicines via the internet
unless the sale is being made by a registered retail pharmacy.
We do work closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency to highlight concerns we may have about illegal medicines sales
by other UK sellers.
The Society has formed a working group to look at the issues around the online
sale of medicines, including illegal sales. The group includes representatives
from the MHRA, Department of Health, other pharmacy organisations, internet
pharmacy providers and consumer groups. One of the themes to emerge
from the group’s
work is the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of purchasing
medicines from illegal internet suppliers and encouraging patients to
use registered pharmacy
services. |
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