How to buy medication legally online

Buying a medicine online in the UK is straightforward when a handful of conditions are met. Here is what to look for.

Four pillars of a legal purchase

• A valid prescription, issued for you specifically by a prescriber who has actually assessed you.
• The prescriber is registered with the GMC or another UK regulator.
• The pharmacy is registered with the GPhC or the PSNI and displays the required seller information.
• The prescription follows from a genuine consultation, not a one-line questionnaire with no clinical assessment.

Controlled drugs and online prescribing

Prescription-only medicines, and controlled drugs in particular, may only be prescribed by a UK-registered prescriber who has carried out an appropriate assessment; UK regulators have repeatedly warned against online sellers that issue prescriptions after little more than a tick-box questionnaire. Confirm the seller's registration with the GPhC or PSNI before ordering, and check current regulator guidance before relying on an online-only prescription for a controlled drug.

Personal importation

Bringing prescription medicines into the UK from abroad for personal use sits in a narrow legal space, generally limited to a short supply carried together with a valid prescription, and it carries real legal and safety risk - imported products have not been assessed under the UK licensing regime. This is background information, not a recommendation.