Online pharmacies are leading the way in healthcare, offering a discreet, convenient service that is available round-the-clock. You can log on and order medicine at any time of day, there’s no need to wait in line to be served and you won’t be overheard – ideal if you’re suffering from a problem, you’d rather no one else knew about.
If you’re already convinced but you don’t know how to find an online pharmacy you can trust, we have some tips to help you sort the good from the bad.
The UK healthcare system – who’s who
There are lots of regulatory bodies involved in looking after the UK’s healthcare system and when you’re looking for a trusted online pharmacy, it’s useful to understand the part that each of them plays.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The CQC oversees healthcare providers in the UK; this includes hospitals, dentists, the ambulance service and all social care. The commission monitors and inspects these providers to ensure that they meet high safety and quality standards.
The CQC covers online doctor services, which are offered by some pharmacies.
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
The GPhC regulates pharmacies, including those operating online, to maintain a high standard of care for patients. If you’re considering buying prescription medicine online, look for a pharmacy that is registered with the GPhC.
- The medicines regulator, known as MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves all medicines that are sold in the UK, including those you see sold in pharmacies. The agency ensures these products are safe and effective before they are released.
Registered online pharmacies only sell genuine, MHRA-approved medicines.
How to spot a trusted online pharmacy
To help patients identify pharmacies they can trust, the GPhC has set up the ‘voluntary internet pharmacy logo scheme’. Registered online chemists can use the logo on their website to prove to consumers that they meet high standards of patient care.
The pharmacy’s GPhC registration number and a UK address should be included on their website to give visitors the reassurance they need before they buy.
Post My Meds, for example, is registered to a “bricks-and-mortar store” in Twickenham, and you can find our GPhC registration number on our website. You’ll also find the registration number for our pharmacists – Joseph Issac and Prabjeet Saundh.
A registered pharmacy will always check to make sure it is safe for you to take the certain medication you’ve requested before they process your order.
If you find a retailer willing to sell you prescription medicine without asking you any questions about your health issues first, it is a clear sign that they are not operating safely and cannot be trusted.
Are unauthorised sites dangerous?
Unregulated websites selling medicines are unlikely to be run by healthcare professionals, so you cannot be certain that you will receive the right medical advice.
Without the right advice, you are at risk of using the treatment incorrectly and you could suffer serious side effects as a result. A registered pharmacist will also ask you about any other medicine you are taking to avoid any harmful drug interactions.
When you buy medicine from an unauthorised site, you cannot be certain that what you receive is MHRA-approved. It could be diluted, out-of-date, or even fake. At best you could lose your money, and at worst, the product could make you seriously ill.
The MHRA regularly confiscates illegal drugs for things like weight loss and erectile dysfunction that are banned in this country but still sold on the “black market”.
What can Post My Meds offer?
If you’re looking for a UK online pharmacy that you can trust then Post My Meds can help. We are registered with the GPhC and our experienced pharmacy team has years of experience working with patients in the NHS and private healthcare.
Our customers consistently rate us highly. You can take a look at our ‘excellent’ independent customer reviews on Trust Pilot.
We offer a wide range of pharmacy services like any other high-street chemist, covering everything from acne to hair loss. And because we understand that your privacy is important, we ship all our customers’ orders in plain, unbranded packaging.
At Post My Meds, we make online ordering easy with just three simple steps:
- View the treatment you require
- Use the online consultation tool to answer some health-related questions
- Select your eligible treatment and buy securely at the check-out for quick and discreet delivery
If you order before 4pm on a weekday or 11am on a Saturday, your order will be processed the same working day and dispatched by first class post.
Looking for an online pharmacy you can trust is a job you can tick off your list, because with Post My Meds, you can be sure that you are in safe hands.
