The Pharmacist’s Podcast: The rise of online pharmacies and how to regulate them

In the latest episode of The Pharmacist’s Podcast, experts explore whether the reputation of online pharmacy has been tarnished by a minority of substandard or illegal providers, and how regulation can protect patients without stifling innovation.

The episode examines the opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid growth of digital pharmacy, including concerns about counterfeit medicines, patient safety and access to care.

Reporter Emily Warner is joined by Earim Chaudry and Danielle Brightman, members of the newly established Coalition of Responsible Digital Health (CORDH), alongside Dr Anju Verma, GP and clinical lead for weight loss at Boots Online Doctor, and Sarina Mughal, a pharmacy director in London.

The guests discuss the growing demand for online healthcare, and the role digital providers can play in improving access to treatment, particularly for patients seeking support with conditions that may carry stigma, such as obesity, sexual health and women’s health.

They also consider how regulators and digital providers can work more closely together to establish best practice, strengthen safeguards and help patients identify trustworthy services.

The Pharmacist’s Podcast is hosted on Buzzsprout, but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episode here.

In our previous episode, we travelled to the Science Media Centre, London for a briefing on some new recommendations for the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

The Pharmacist’s Podcast seeks to explore the latest developments in pharmacy through discussions with experts, policymakers, and frontline professionals to shed light on the stories shaping the profession.

For further details about The Pharmacist’s Podcast and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us today.