91Èȱ¬

Monday 11 May

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says that currently there are numerous spam e-mails in circulation offering online sales of anti-viral medicines to treat Swine Flu.

It's urging the public not to be tempted to take a shortcut to obtain what are prescription only medicines as there is a high probability that any pills received will be substandard or counterfeit.

Its warning of the risks online pharmacies entail is endorsed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

Welsh director Cath Savage says that medicines are prescription only for a reason and that it's buyer beware for people looking for medication on the internet without one.

"You can't tell where any website is based. Even it is has got a .co.uk address you don't know who could be operating that website."

"They could be from anywhere in the world. You don't know what medicines you are going to be getting."

"It's important that patients realise that we have medicines regulation for a very good reason. A lot of these products are really potent and taken by the wrong person at the wrong time can do you a lot of harm."

"So it's important that people realise the rules are there for a reason."

And there are sites that do play by the rules. To help consumers indentify them the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has developed an Internet Pharmacy logo.

Phil Bullen, who runs a community pharmacy on the outskirts of Cardiff, is one of those to have signed up. He's investing big money in a new website for his online business.

"We're actually looking at spending about £75,000 to get that website set up. But we will be having video-conferencing, 24-hour access to pharmacists, access to your own medication records online."

"I know myself that in five or ten year's time, when I want regular medication I would rather have an e-mail or text to say can you just go online and tell us what you need this month from your repeat medication."

"Then two weeks later it's delivered to my door with a signature. It's ideal for me and I believe it will be ideal for many people as well."