Pharmacist Suspended for Eight Months Following Failures in Online Pharmacy Safeguards

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) investigated the registrant, the director and superintendent pharmacist of an online pharmacy, following multiple regulatory breaches between 2018 and 2021. The investigation was triggered by concerns about the uncontrolled sale of high-risk prescription medicines, including opioids, sedatives, and antimicrobials, through an online pharmacy service.

Key failings included:

• Allowing patients to select medicines before consulting a prescriber, a practice that increased the risk of misuse.
• Permitting EU-based prescribers (who were not registered with UK regulatory bodies) to issue prescriptions without verifying patient history or consulting GPs.
• Failure to conduct identity checks, making it possible for individuals to obtain medicines under false details.
• Inadequate oversight of prescribing, leading to excessive or inappropriate supplies of controlled drugs.

Findings

The GPhC panel determined that the registrant’s failures in governance and oversight created a significant risk to public safety. Specific concerns included:

• Failure to enforce basic prescribing safeguards, such as verifying whether a patient had a GP or medical history that warranted the requested medication.
• Disregard for previous regulatory warnings, including a 2019 Improvement Notice that required the pharmacy to improve its safety measures.
• A flawed online consultation system, which allowed patients to edit their answers without an auditable record, enabling them to manipulate responses.

A regulatory inspection also found that:

• Patients were able to obtain large quantities of controlled drugs without adequate justification.
• EU prescribers lacked appropriate indemnity cover, meaning that patients harmed by inappropriate prescribing would not have had legal recourse.

A direct quote from the ruling highlighted the seriousness of the case:

“The registrant was repeatedly warned about patient safety risks but failed to take adequate action, placing vulnerable individuals at significant harm.”

GPhC Determination on Impairment

The panel concluded that the registrant’s fitness to practise was impaired due to:

• Public protection concerns, as the pharmacy’s prescribing model enabled inappropriate medication supply.
• Failure to take accountability, despite multiple opportunities to address identified risks.
• Damage to public confidence, as the case undermined trust in online pharmacy services.

While the registrant claimed to have made improvements, the committee found insufficient evidence of full remediation.

Sanction

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed an eight-month suspension with review, determining that:

• The registrant’s failures were too severe for conditions or a warning to be sufficient.
• A longer suspension might have been justified, but the committee acknowledged that some improvements had been made.
• A review before reinstatement was necessary to ensure the registrant had demonstrated full insight and remediation.

Additionally, an interim suspension was imposed immediately, preventing the registrant from practising until the full suspension takes effect or an appeal is resolved.

Key Learning Points for Pharmacy Professionals

1. Online pharmacies must implement robust safeguards – The risks of distance selling require extra diligence in verifying patient identity, medical history, and prescribing decisions.
2. Regulatory warnings must be taken seriously – Failure to address identified patient safety risks will result in escalated sanctions.
3. Prescribing must adhere to UK standards – Using EU-based prescribers does not absolve pharmacy owners of responsibility for ensuring safe prescribing.
4. Identity checks are essential – Pharmacies must verify patient details before supplying medicines to prevent misuse or diversion.
5. Lack of engagement with regulators worsens outcomes – The GPhC will not tolerate repeated failures to improve compliance when concerns are raised.

Conclusion

This case highlights the dangers of poorly regulated online pharmacy models. While digital healthcare services offer convenience, they must be operated with strict oversight to prevent harm. The eight-month suspension serves as a warning to pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists that patient safety must always take priority over commercial considerations.