Web prescriptions get all clear from UK authorities

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has succumbed to pressure from an Internet start-up to alter guidelines endorsing the sale of pharmaceuticals online.

The sale of prescription drugs online was prohibited by guidelines originally set out for high-street pharmacists before the birth of the Web. But in November last year, Pharmacy 2U defied the regulations by setting up an online pharmacy.

Daniel Lee, managing director of Pharmacy 2U said: "We saw the model being successful in the US and we launched on the 22 November. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society came up to see us and have since changed the regulations to allow for the sale of medicines over the Internet."

Neil Bacon, medical director at the British Medical Association (BMA), claimed it is a positive move. He said: "A lot of people are talking about this. Doctors want it, patients want it, the medical community wants it. With more and more doctors using the Web, it's only a matter of time before more than one company is doing it."

Anyone in the UK can submit requests, and pay for prescription drugs online. Once the company has received the required prescription note in the post, they will send the drugs to the customer. The site also provides customers with health advice and has a Q&A section enabling them to speak directly to a qualified pharmacist.

The Pharmacy 2U Web site is located at http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk .

For more information on the guidelines read the latest edition of the Pharmaceutical Journal located at http://www.pharmj.com .