Be wary the temptation of dodgy discounts and basement bargains when buying medication online. If the price is almost too good to be true then it probably is too good to be true. With an ever increasing number of online resources available for the purchase of prescription treatments, prices are competitive but not unrealistic.

The top sites in the area of online prescribing compete with one another in order to achieve the highest level of service, at the lowest realistic prices. These businesses know they will lose money if they are not meeting the demands of consumers and are over-charging for their products and services. Keeping an eye on the price differences between the top sites will give you an indication of what you should be spending for the products and the service. Ridiculously low prices will not indicate that the companies are offering a better service but rather it is usually indicative of an unregulated business masquerading as a clinic; one that does not adhere to the rules and regulations imposed by the UK authorities and that does not conform to the codes of practice expected in a professional healthcare environment.

Our motto in this area is – if the price looks too good to be true, it’s not genuine medication. Avoid.

There are many companies operating online and offering prescription drugs for sale. Pretty much anything is obtainable these days but people are not always getting what they paid for. Despite the swathe of offers and discounts from online companies that fill up our email accounts daily, there are only a handful of companies that can be considered legitimate healthcare providers that also operate online.

In order for such online establishments to operate with a licence, clinics must be regulated and licensed by the Care Quality Commission and pharmacies must be regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council. Furthermore, details of their registration and regulatory bodies should be clearly visible and accessible on their websites.

Purchasing medication online offers convenience for those who cannot get to a doctor or for those who do not wish to see a doctor in a face to face environment. The same questions are asked in an online consultation as are asked in a face to face session and all consultations are reviewed by doctors. Unfortunately there are companies out there who are exploiting the innocence of online consumers and they are sending out counterfeit drugs that are unlicensed and potentially lethal. It is vital that when purchasing online in the UK that one looks out for the Care Quality Commission registration number on any website. If it is not displayed then you would be well advised to avoid.