Health conditions potentially impacted by counterfeit medicines

Influenza and swine flu

Have you or someone you know been looking for swine or seasonal influenza (flu) prescription-only medicines online?

It is increasingly common for people to search online for information about swine flu or seasonal flu, to learn more about symptoms such as high temperature and fever, muscle aches and pains, cough, blocked or runny nose and sinus pain, and to find out about available treatments. Sometimes people will then try to purchase prescription-only medicines for flu or viruses online.

Remember, don't by-pass the healthcare professional. Your GP, nurse and pharmacist are there to give you the right advice, from diagnosis through to treatment and ongoing management of a condition.

Well-known medicines purchased online have been found to be counterfeit. Don't put yourself at risk - always get a prescription, and always buy from registered sources.

Already have a prescription and want to buy medicines online?

An approved UK online pharmacy will be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). To find out more go to http://www.pharmacyregulation.org.

Want to know more about a medicine?

The Patient Information Leaflet (the leaflets provided with your medicine) and the Summary of Product Characteristics for all authorised medicines can be found on the Electronic Medicines Compendium web site.

Worried about a medicine?

To report a side-effect of a medicine you can go to any pharmacist or doctor or visit http://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/.

For any Pfizer medicine (bearing the Pfizer logo) you can contact Pfizer Drug Safety by telephone:
0845 300 8031 or fax: 0845 300 8032.

Think that your medicine might be fake?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency monitor medicines and medical devices sold or distributed in the UK. We have powers which enable us to prosecute those who manufacture and distribute counterfeit products in the UK. If you have been offered what you suspect to be counterfeit products, or have seen them for sale or have bought them we would like you to tell us. Contact us by emailing the Enforcement Group at counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or call our dedicated 24 hour counterfeit hotline 020 3080 6701, or you can write to us at 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SZ.

For more information visit www.mhra.gov.uk/buy-medicines-online

Want to get a prescription?

In most cases, a prescription is usually only provided following a face to face consultation with your doctor, nurse or other registered health professional. However, genuine medical care can also be provided by some healthcare providers online. Some of these healthcare providers will be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and employ General Medical Council (GMC) registered medical practitioners. Not all online healthcare providers need to be legally registered by the Care Quality Commission though.

Websites run by registered services might include a link to their registration details on the CQC website and you can check the authenticity of such registered services by looking up their entry on the CQC database.