The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the UK regulator for pharmacies, is intensifying its oversight of online pharmacies, a sector that has demonstrated a significantly higher rate of regulatory failure compared to traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. The increased scrutiny comes amid growing concerns about patient safety and the potential for substandard care within the rapidly expanding online pharmaceutical market.
An analysis by The Pharmaceutical Journal, published in April 2025, revealed that 10% of distance-selling pharmacies failed GPhC inspections between April 2024 and January 2025, more than double the 4.5% failure rate observed among high street pharmacies. This disparity highlights a systemic vulnerability within the online sector, prompting the GPhC to prioritize inspections and revise its regulatory approach.
The GPhC announced in December 2024, with implementation beginning in January 2025, a new inspection schedule. Online pharmacies will now be prioritized for their first inspection within six months of registration, a significantly shorter timeframe than the 12 months allotted to traditional pharmacies. This shift reflects the regulator’s assessment that online pharmacies exhibit a “steeper drop off in performance the larger the gap between initial registration and first inspection,” according to council papers.
The need for more frequent and rigorous inspections stems from a concerning trend in compliance rates. Data from the GPhC indicates that only 66% of online pharmacies meet all standards at their first inspection, compared to 90% of traditional pharmacies. This gap in performance underscores the unique challenges associated with regulating pharmaceutical services delivered remotely.
Governance emerged as the most frequent area of failure among online pharmacies, with 92% of those failing inspections cited for deficiencies in this standard. Service quality was also a significant concern, with 67% of failing online pharmacies falling short in this area. Staffing and premises were also flagged as areas needing improvement, with failure rates of 38% and 33% respectively. Notably, no distance-selling pharmacies failed inspections related to equipment, and facilities.
The regulatory changes are a response to a growing number of incidents raising concerns about the safety of online pharmaceutical services. A case highlighted by ITV’s Good Morning Britain in January 2025 involved a patient who experienced severe adverse effects after obtaining medication, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), through an online pharmacy that relied solely on an online questionnaire and video submission of weight. This incident, and the death of a nurse in September 2024 after obtaining Mounjaro through a similar service, prompted calls for tighter regulations.
In February 2025, the GPhC issued new guidance requiring online operators to conduct more thorough assessments of patients, such as video consultations or reviews of clinical records, particularly when prescribing high-risk medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. This guidance aims to address the risks associated with relying on self-reported information and superficial assessments.
The increased regulatory pressure on online pharmacies is likely to have several implications. Compliance costs for online operators are expected to rise as they invest in more robust assessment procedures and quality control measures. Smaller operators may struggle to meet the new standards, potentially leading to consolidation within the sector. Consumers, while potentially facing higher prices, are expected to benefit from improved safety and quality of service.
The GPhC’s actions reflect a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny of the online healthcare market. As more healthcare services migrate online, regulators are grappling with the challenges of ensuring patient safety and maintaining quality standards in a virtual environment. The pharmaceutical sector, with its inherent risks associated with medication errors and counterfeit drugs, is at the forefront of this regulatory wave.
The Pharmaceutical Journal’s analysis, covering the period from April 2024 to January 2025, included 230 distance-selling pharmacies and 2,002 traditional pharmacies. The findings underscore the need for continued vigilance and proactive regulation to protect patients and maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The focus on online pharmacies also comes as illicit online pharmacies continue to pose a threat, selling unapproved and counterfeit drugs. A study published in February 2023 highlighted the dangers of these operations and the need for ongoing efforts to combat their activities.
