Christian Jessen is looking like a completely dangerous quack now, isn't he?
6 August 2018
Safety concerns over websites selling prescription drugs
By Dr Faye Kirkland
BBC Panorama
(extract)
England's healthcare regulator is calling for a change in the law to protect patients using online doctor sites selling prescription-only drugs.
It comes after a BBC Panorama investigation exposed safety concerns relating to websites using doctors from companies based outside England.
The Care Quality Commission said these websites could be "dangerous".
Currently, it can only inspect websites employing doctors contracted by companies in England. (continues)
Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, told Panorama: "I'm horrified to see some of those sites that you showed me, to see that you click on the drug first, and then you go through the consultation, and just how easy it was to circumvent the process.
"This isn't right. It's not safe. It has to be sorted."
Celebrity doctor link
Panorama has discovered another UK-based online doctor site using the same Romanian loophole.
UK Meds cannot be regulated by the CQC because it hires doctors to do consultations and prescriptions through its sister company EU General Practitioners in Romania.
The site, which has already made £1.7m profit since it was set up in 2016, is promoted by celebrity doctor Christian Jessen.
Panorama showed the site to Gino Martini, chief scientist for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
He said: "As a professional body we do not support promotion of prescription-only medicines.
"What I saw on that website was direct promotion to patients, so it is something we wouldn't support and is something we should really raise with the drug regulators as not being appropriate."
After Panorama wrote to Dr Jessen and UK Meds, the videos featuring him were "temporarily unavailable" before a "clarification notice" was added saying: "This video is for information purposes only. If you have any specific concerns about your health please consult your GP."
UK Meds said the changes to their website were nothing to do with Panorama.
A spokesperson for Dr Jessen told Panorama he was engaged by UK Meds to present short information videos about various medical conditions and that he does not prescribe medication, nor does he endorse a specific product, service or brand." (continues)
www.bbc.com/news/health-45084555