How to Spot a Genuine Online Pharmacy
The safest way to buy prescription medicine online is from a trusted pharmacy, but how do you spot a genuine online pharmacy? Many online pharmacies selling medicines are not registered as pharmacies, so buying from them is potentially unsafe. Medicines from an unregistered website might be out of date, diluted or counterfeit medication or may not be suitable for you, putting your health at risk.
This guide will highlight what you need to look out for when choosing a safe legitimate online UK pharmacy and some of the red flags to look out for.
⚕️ What are the signs of a trustworthy and safe online pharmacy?
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Registration
Any online pharmacy licensed to practise in Great Britain should display their General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration number, their address, and their Superintendent Pharmacist’s name and individual registration number.
In the case of Now Patient we display this information in the middle of our home page and on our About Us page. This is in the form of a small, rectangular, green icon that reads Registered Pharmacy above the registration number, and which links to our GPhC registration details.
You can verify this information by visiting www.pharmacyregulation.org, where you can search for a pharmacist or pharmacy using their name or registration number. Here, you’ll also be able to see any recent inspection reports and if the pharmacy has been subject to any notices or conditions.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
The MHRA ensure medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion meet applicable standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. They also ensure that pharmacy services have the necessary legal and regulatory permissions to run a pharmacy website. At Now Patient we are fully regulated by the MHRA. You can verify this information by visiting PARD where you can search for our pharmacy name Infohealth.
Licensed pharmacists
Online pharmacies must employ licensed pharmacists to provide prescription medications to patients and advise them on proper dosage, possible side effects and advice on health conditions. This adds another layer of trust and legitimacy to an online pharmacy.
All our pharmacists at Now Patient are licensed and each one is named with a short bio on their background and professional history. When you click onto their profile you can see their GPhC number which will take you directly to their registration details.
Care quality commission (CQC)
The Care Quality Commission independently monitors, inspects and regulates health and social care services, and includes ratings in all its evaluations. Its role reaches further than just pharmacies, it also extends to hospital and dental settings. We are not currently CQC registered therefore we use independent pharmacist prescribers.
Contact information
Any legitimate online pharmacy should also clearly provide contact information, such as an email address, phone number and a physical address to which you can send post. If you call or email, you should receive a prompt reply.
There should also be information about how to lodge a complaint about the pharmacy, which is part of GPhC requirements.
For Now Patient, all of this information is on our About Us – NowPatient page, which is linked to from our footer on every page.
Advice and help
Reputable GPhC-registered pharmacies should go above and beyond selling pharmacy products and medications, they should also offer plenty of advice and support, whether or not you buy medication from them.
At Now Patient we maintain Blog section which features easy to understand articles about different conditions, medications and current topics.
Customer reviews and ratings
Legitimate online pharmacies should show feedback they’ve received and use any negative reviews as a way to improve their service. However, not all ratings and reviews are trustworthy.
When looking at a website, consider where their reviews and ratings are hosted. Those simply posted on the website directly should be regarded with suspicion, instead look to see if the website is using a third party.
At Now Patient we collect feedback using Trustpilot, which is a well-known review website. You can view our ratings and reviews here. We’re proud to maintain a 4.9 star rating (out of 5 stars) from actual customers.
Tips
- A website claiming to be an online pharmacy in the UK which does not clearly display GPhC and MHRA approval may be fake
- Look for “https://” at the beginning of the website address, as this shows your data is being protected
- Websites which do not provide contact details or information about how to make a complaint should be a warning sign
- Check if the online healthcare service and healthcare professionals working there are registered with UK regulators
- Ask questions about how the service works
- Check what after-care you will receive
📝 Conclusion
Some online pharmacies are not trustworthy. It is extremely important when considering where to buy prescription drugs, that the pharmacy is registered with the GPhC, clear contact details, accessible polices and licensed pharmacists are available on the website. The addition of health-related blogs and Trustpilot ratings and reviews all add to trust and confidence.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
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We are a broad skilled and passionate group of clinicians with experience of operating in health systems in the United Kingdom & United States. Providing excellent care and advice is at the heart of everything we do. You can read more about our medical team by visiting the medical team page or learn more about how we curate content by visiting our editorial process
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Your Questions Answered
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What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.
Get started today and benefit from medication reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS online pharmacy, GP appointment booking, Rx savings card, Drug Coupons, US drug savings programs, health conditions information, genetic testing, home test kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, pollen meter, air quality monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.
UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.
US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111