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Beware the Viagra cowboys

The dangers of Viagra cowboys
There are thousands of websites offering to sell Viagra , Cialis and Levitra. As a patient, you need to be very careful which website you use. You're at risk of purchasing counterfeit medicines. As worringly, you're at risk of purchasing real Viagra, Cialis and Levitra when it would be very damaging to your health to take them.
Registered with the Care Quality Commission
If a medical service is registered with the Care Quality Commission, this means that it has been formally assessed to meet the standards required of UK healthcare providers. If you don't see mention that an online medical service is registered with the Care Quality Commission, the website probably won't be registered and inspected by the UK healthcare watchdog.
The 'GMC registered myth'
Many websites pretend that just because their doctors are 'GMC registered' this somehow means that you are in safe hands. The sad fact is that many of the doctors who work for online medical services don't adhere to the strict requirements that the General Medical Council set for doctors who prescribe for patients online.
The 'overseen by the MHRA' myth
Many websites say that they are 'overseen by the MHRA'. The MHRA is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and is responsible, amongst other things, for stopping the supply of counterfeit medicines, but the MHRA plays no role in ensuring that an online medical service offers a service that is clinically appropriate. The Healthcare Commission is the regulator that regulates medical services to ensure that they meet UK National Minimum Standards of healthcare.
Name of the doctor overseeing a service
If you can't see the name of the doctor who oversees and takes responsibility for the website, be very careful. If a doctor is proud of the service they provide, there is no reason for them to hide behind an anonymous website.
Demand to know the name of the doctor
UK doctors are required by the GMC to give their name to their patients. If you have been sent medicine by a website, demand to know the name of the doctor who wrote your prescription. If you are having any problem finding out the doctor's name, contact DrThom and we'll see if we can help.
DrThom works in partnership with Terrence Higgins Trust, bpas and Lloydspharmacy   |  Pharmacy registration no: RPSGB 1094381

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