We have all become familiar with the great convenience and ease of buying goods online but what about when it comes to medicines?
Buying medicines online, in the comfort of your own home, without having to take time off work or interrupt your busy schedule to visit your GP is a service we would all like to access. It becomes even more attractive if the nature of your treatment is for sensitive or intimate conditions.
But it is critical to make thorough and proper checks before making any online pharmaceutical purchases. The risks associated with ordering meds online without due diligence are too significant to ignore.
How do you know if you are buying genuine medicines from a reputable registered seller?
It is illegal to buy any prescription only medicine unless a doctor has written a prescription specifically for you.
If a website or any seller is willing to sell a prescription only medicine without a prescription, it should be red flagged and don't buy! Avoid such platforms as they may be operating illegally and compromising your health.
How can you check that the website you want to use to obtain medicines is a legitimate online pharmacy?
All websites selling prescription medication in England should be
registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who are a government appointed independent regulator of health and
social care.
All fully approved and regulated
websites should have a clickable link that will take you to the CQC register to
show that they are compliant. Antrobus Medical Limited is the prescribing body for WebMed Pharmacy Ltd.
All medicines supplied from a pharmacy in Great Britain, including internet pharmacies, and must be registered with the
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and meet their standards.
Again, simply click on the logo which should take you through to that particular pharmacy's entry on the GPhC register.
All websites operating in the UK,
but outside of England, must be registered with the equivalent body in each
country: Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and
Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland).
Therefore, anybody buying medicines from an online pharmacy can check if the pharmacy is legitimately registered by clicking on the logo or going directly to the GPhC website and searching their online register.
What other checks can be made?
For Data Security and Privacy
Always look for secure payment options, SSL encryption. A secure URL should begin with https rather than http. The "S" stands for secure. https://webmedpharmacy.co.uk
Reviewing customer feedback
Whilst they can be manipulated, customer reviews can provide valuable insights into the experiences of previous customers.
Click here for WebMed Pharmacy Trustpilot reviews.
You should be able to easily find the name, address and telephone number. An online supplier who conceals its physical address is a warning sign that their products could be dangerous.
When you order any medication from our UK registered and regulated pharmacy you can be assured that you are doing so safely, legally and discreetly.
It is important to avoid drug interactions. A significant risk of ordering medications online without proper checks is the potential for harmful drug interactions. Some drugs can have adverse effects when taken together or when interacting with certain medical conditions. A licensed healthcare provider is trained to consider these factors, whereas an unlicenced online platform might not provide the necessary guidance.
WebMed Pharmacy Ltd is fully approved and regulated, and only supplies medicines from a MHRA accredited wholesaler. You can confidently order from us, knowing that you can complete an online medical questionnaire in the comfort of your own home and if suitable can be prescribed by our GMC regulated doctor.
At WebMed Pharmacy Ltd we provide a confidential, discreet next working day delivery of your chosen medication, within a 1-hour time slot to the vast majority of postcodes in the UK or Click & Collect from a store near you, with a choice of 6,500+ pickup shops nationwide.
In conclusion, the convenience of ordering medications online should not come at the cost of your health and safety. Doing the correct checks before making any online medication purchase is not only prudent but a critical step to safeguarding your well-being.
Quick easy links to our most popular pages with the confidence of knowing we are a fully approved and regulated pharmacy, only supplying UK sourced medication:
Weight Loss
Erectile dysfunction | Sildenafil | Tadalafil
Gonorrhoea treatment | Chlamydia treatment
Hair Loss treatment | Finasteride
STI Tests | HIV Test Kits
Medically reviewed by: Super intendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 17 March 2016
Updated and reviewed 2 May 2017
Updated and reviewed 27 February 2021
Updated and reviewed 8 December 2023