30 doctors in internet drugs probe

HEALTH chiefs are investigating 30 doctors in the UK over prescribing drugs via the internet.

The General Medical Council is dealing with the cases of suspicion of unsafe prescribing, which include 19 GPs.

Several deaths have been linked to patients obtaining strong medications this way, the magazine Pulse reports. It comes just days after the care regulator found that almost half of online GP firms are unsafe.

A report by the Care Quality Commission warned many online doctors are handing out addictive painkillers and antibiotics without appropriate checks.

Others failed to pass on prescription details to patients’ regular GPs while some did no checks to ensure patients were over 18. The GMC, which regulates doctors, confirmed it was working with other regulators to address safety concerns.

Watchdogs have voiced concerns over the rise of online prescribing, which increasing numbers of patients are turning to rather than waiting weeks to get an appointment with their own GP surgery.

Patients can choose to have consultations over the internet. Patients can also fill in a form that is checked by doctors before they are given a prescription.

In addition to UK-based services, the CQC and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency say patients are getting prescriptions from abroad.

Experts are concerned this is fuelling addictions to strong painkillers. Hospital admissions in England for opioid abuse have nearly doubled in the last decade.

Dr Andrew Green, of the British Medical Association, told Pulse: ‘In comparison to the highly regulated world of general practice, these providers seem to work in a “wild west” beyond the reach of regulators.’