I saw a programme last week about buying medicines on the Internet. My husband is very seriously ill with cancer and his prognosis is poor. I have done some research on the Internet and there are some drugs which are advertised as helping to stop the advance of the cancer but they are over £1000 for each course. I mentioned these to my GP who had not heard of the drug and said I should be wary of buying anything which had not been properly tested. What should I do?
There are very strict controls in the UK and European Community countries relating to the manufacture, licensing, sale, supply and advertising of drugs. All drugs which claim a therapeutic effect must have a Product Licence or Marketing Authorisation to confirm they have been properly tested and are safe, effective and reach certain standards of quality. In this country, this is regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Other EC bodies have similar organisations and drugs are imported from other countries on this basis.
This regulatory control does not extend to the Internet however. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is hoping to develop a logo system for websites to adopt which will link into a pharmacy to verify authenticity.
Until then, the buying of drugs, other than through pharmacies, brings no guarantee that the drug bought is the correct drug, that it will do any good, and of more concern, that it will not harm.
In your case, if you believe the drug you have identified will help your husband, you should speak to your GP again and see if he can prescribe it privately for you and ask your pharmacist if s/he is able to obtain the drug.
