Summary of guidance on internet pharmacy services

· Pharmacists must always have the best interests of the patient as their prime concern when supplying medicines or providing advice and information via the internet and must ensure that high standards of professional service and care are maintained

· The premises from which internet sales or supplies of pharmacy (P) and prescription only medicines (POM) are to be made must be registered with the Society. The pharmacy premises must be a physical building: a virtual site is not acceptable

· The legal requirements governing the sale and supply of medicines from community pharmacies also apply to internet services, ie, the pharmacy must be under the personal control of a pharmacist, supervision requirements must be met and, apart from limited exemptions, POMs must only be supplied in accordance with a valid prescription signed by an appropriate practitioner

· Internet pharmacy services must comply with the specific professional requirements for online pharmacy services detailed in service specification 9 of the Code of Ethics and Standards. All other relevant requirements of the Code must also be met

· Pharmacy websites must clearly display: the name of the owner of the business; the address of the pharmacy at which the business is conducted; where applicable, the name of the superintendent pharmacist; information about how to confirm the registration status of the pharmacy and pharmacist

· Patients should be free to choose where and how they obtain the pharmaceutical services they require and pharmacists should not engage in any activity or agreement that undermines this choice

· Pharmacists must obtain all relevant information to assess the patient’s needs. Where a patient’s best interests may warrant face-to-face consultation, the patient or their carer must be advised accordingly

· Pharmacists must be satisfied that the patient knows how to use the medication they have requested or have been prescribed safely, effectively and appropriately. Patients must have the opportunity to discuss any queries they have about the medication being supplied, or the condition being treated

· When supplying medicines against prescriptions, pharmacists must be satisfied that the prescription is genuine and that the supply is appropriate for the patient. Pharmacists should be alert to indications that a prescriber may not have undertaken an adequate assessment of the patient

· The security of confidential data exchanged via the internet service must be ensured

· Procedures should be in place to ensure that the patient’s medication is delivered safely and with appropriate instructions

· When supplying medicines to overseas patients, pharmacists must ensure that all relevant legal and professional requirements are complied with. Due consideration should be given to differences in the licensed indications and/or legal classification of medicines between countries and systems should be in place to ensure that the patient receives sufficient advice and any necessary follow-up care

· Appropriate records should be kept of the internet pharmacy services provided. A verifiable audit trail of the medicines sold or supplied should be maintained