Summary of the GPhC Guidance on Distance Pharmacy Services (February 2025)

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has today issued updated guidance for registered pharmacies that offer services at a distance. This includes via the internet. The guidance is structured around key principles to safeguard patient health, guarantee professional accountability, and enhance service transparency.

Basis for the GPhC Recommendations

The GPhC’s recommendations are grounded in:

1. Risk Management & Governance
   • Pharmacies must conduct comprehensive risk assessments, keep precise records, and make sure that governance frameworks focus on patient safety​.
   • They should be cautious when working with non-UK-based prescribers and must guarantee compliance with regulatory requirements​.
2. Prescribing & Consultation Standards
   • Prescribers must follow General Medical Council (GMC) guidance on proposing, prescribing, and managing medicines​.
   • High-risk medications, like controlled drugs and those requiring ongoing monitoring, should not be supplied without extra safeguards. These safeguards include access to medical records​.
3. Digital and Remote Pharmacy Operations
   • Online pharmacy services must have secure and user-friendly digital platforms. They need to follow data protection laws. The platforms must guarantee robust identity verification procedures​.
   • Automated systems should detect inappropriate medication requests (e.g., multiple orders to the same location)​.
4. Transparency & Informed Consent
   • Patients must have clear access to information about pharmacy services, including prescriber details and available consultation options​.
   • Prescriptions should be issued based on clinical need rather than incentives or commercial interests​.

Practical Implications for Prescribing Pharmacists

1. Stronger Clinical Justification for Prescriptions
   • Pharmacist prescribers must independently verify patient information instead of relying solely on online questionnaires​.
   • For high-risk medicines, pharmacists should engage in two-way communication with patients or consult their GP before prescribing​.
2. Improved Consultation Methods
   • Pharmacists must select an appropriate consultation format (video, phone, or in-person) based on patient needs and medication risks​.
   • Pharmacists must confirm patient identity through secure verification methods​.
3. Legal & Ethical Responsibilities
   • Pharmacist Independent Prescribers (PIPs) must adhere to Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Competency Framework and GPhC guidance​.
   • Ongoing professional development is required, particularly in managing cyber risks and ensuring effective remote consultations​.

Benefits for Patients

1. Enhanced Patient Safety
   • Strengthened identity verification reduces fraudulent orders and protects patients from receiving inappropriate medications​.
   • Extra safeguards for high-risk medications guarantee appropriate monitoring and reduce the risk of misuse​.
2. Greater Transparency & Access to Care
   • Patients get clearer information about their medication, associated risks, and how to seek further support​.
   • Digital services allow easier access to consultations, supporting those in remote locations or with mobility issues​.
3. Improved Communication & Decision-Making
   • Patients can engage in shared decision-making with pharmacists, ensuring they get treatments tailored to their medical needs​.
   • Pharmacists need to make sure that patients understand their medications, reducing misuse or non-adherence​.

Conclusion

The GPhC’s updated guidance reinforces the importance of safe, transparent, and patient-centered pharmacy services, particularly in online and remote settings. Pharmacists must enhance their risk management, prescribing safeguards, and digital security measures to meet regulatory expectations. Ultimately, these improvements will increase patient trust, safety, and access to high-quality pharmacy services.