Protecting people who use online healthcare services

Published: 6 April 2017 Page last updated: 12 May 2022
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We are inspecting online healthcare services, prioritising those which may present significant risk to patients.

Today we have published four more reports on services which sell prescription medicines through websites. We have taken urgent action against the providers in each case. The services are:

We have produced advice for people who are considering using an online doctor. Last month we also published our first two service reports from this programme and a joint statement reminding clinicians and providers that they must continue to follow professional guidelines when offering these services.

Online companies, and the people working for them, have a duty to protect the people seeking their support.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice