Society seeks online pharmacies to take part in internet logo pilot
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is looking for online pharmacies to
take part in piloting a new logo designed to help the public identify
whether a website is linked to a bona fide pharmacy.
The logo will provide a direct link to the Society’s website. By
clicking on the logo, visitors can verify the registration details of
both the pharmacy and the pharmacist(s) behind the site.
The logo will be part of a wider initiative to help educate the public
about the dangers of using websites that are not connected to registered
pharmacies.
The Society says that internet pharmacy is an area of rapid growth and
it frequently receives enquiries from patients and the media asking how
they can identify legitimate pharmacy websites.
The Society’s head of professional ethics, Lynsey Balmer, says: “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
internet sites which are operated by a registered pharmacy and sites
which operate illegally. Patients may believe they are purchasing medicines
from a registered health care professional when in fact the supplier
has no professional qualifications or health care expertise. Our policy
is that the public benefit from the opportunity for advice from a pharmacist
when they have a medicine supplied. The new logo and link to the Society’s
site aims to highlight when a site is run by a bona fide pharmacist who
is registered with the Society.”
The Code of Ethics currently requires that pharmacy websites display
the name of the owner of the business, the address of the pharmacy at
which the business is conducted, the name of the superintendent pharmacist,
where applicable, and details of how to confirm the registration status
of the pharmacy and pharmacist.
If the pilot is successful, the Society hopes to expand use of the logo to all
registered internet pharmacies and will run a campaign to publicise it widely
to the public.
Information on how to apply to take part in the pilot scheme and the conditions
of use for the logo can be obtained from Priya Sejpal, Professional Ethics Pharmacist,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (tel 020
7572 2481; e-mail priya.sejpal@rpsgb.org).
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