Logo will help public identify genuine pharmacy websites
A special internet pharmacy logo is to be developed to help the public identify pharmacy websites operated by British pharmacies. Clicking on the logo would take users to the Society's online register, where they can check the registration status of the pharmacy or pharmacist.
The development of an internet logo was approved at the December
Council meeting on the recommendation of the Law and Ethics Committee, The Council
was told that a major concern in the supply of medicines through the
internet is that the public cannot easily distinguish between internet
sites run legally by pharmacies and those that operate illegally. People
often wrongly believe they are purchasing medicines from a registered
health care professional when the supplier has no relevant qualifications
or expertise.
Commenting on the Council’s decision, the Society’s head
of professional ethics, Lynsey Balmer, said: “More and more people
are using the internet to buy medicines and the Society has a duty to
ensure that the public can do this as safely as possible.”
The new logo is expected to be launched early next year. The Society
is to develop guidance detailing how the logo should be used. Safeguards
will be put in place to guard against unauthorised use.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal