25% of UK physicians "treat on-line drug adverse events"

A survey by GP Magazine, a UK publication for general practitioners, has found that 25% of 423 respondents had treated patients for adverse  reactions caused by a drug purchased over the Internet. The figure could  be higher, as 8% said they were unsure.

Although a high proportion of physicians surveyed favored tighter  controls against on-line pharmacies, no specific ideas were presented as  to how this might be accomplished. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of  Great Britain, which represents pharmacists, has launched a scheme to  ensure that approved web sites carry a logo from the Society.

Bill Beeby, the lead member on prescribing for the British Medical  Association's General Practioner Committee, told GP Magazine: "when it  comes to buying drugs on the Internet, it is a minefield. People just do  not know what they will be receiving. I would not advise any of my  patients to go down that route." He claimed that the extent of the  problem of counterfeit, substandard or inappropriate medicines being  obtained by UK patients is unknown.