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Can I safely order medicines online without a prescription from an online doctor?

You cannot get prescription medicines without a prescription. A legal medicines supplier will never give you prescription medicines if you do not have a prescription from a doctor. Doctors, including online doctors, may only prescribe you medicines if they meet certain conditions. For example, they must have access to your medical records, which must be up to date.

When can medicines be prescribed online?

An online doctor can only prescribe you prescription medicines online if the doctor:

  • has a treatment relationship with you
  • knows your medication history 
  • has access to your medical records, which are up to date.

The doctor needs to meet all these conditions to make a correct diagnosis of your medical problem. If they do not, they are not allowed to prescribe you medicines online. Online doctors are not allowed to prescribe medicines based on your answers to an online questionnaire.

Don’t buy prescription medicines from online suppliers who don’t require a prescription

Have you found an online supplier that is offering medicines for sale without prescription that usually require a prescription? Be aware: they are selling fake medicines. Using them can seriously damage your health.

Check whether you need a prescription for the medicine you want

Look up the medicine you want to buy in the Medicines Information Bank. It will tell you whether a medicine is only available on prescription. The Information Bank is maintained by the Committee for the Safety of Medicines (CBG).

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