Registration check
Check an online pharmacy is registered with the GPhC
A registration number printed on a website is only a starting point. Match the business, premises and professionals against the official records yourself before you share health details or pay.
Independently written · Updated
Great Britain
How to use the GPhC pharmacy register
- Find the supplier details on the website. Look for the registered pharmacy name, premises address and GPhC registration number—not just the trading brand.
- Search the official GPhC registers. Use the registration number where possible, or search by name and location.
- Match the details. Check that the registered premises and business information correspond to the service that says it will supply the order.
- Check relevant professionals. If an online consultation names a pharmacist or prescriber, verify their professional registration through the appropriate regulator.
- Investigate inconsistencies. Do not continue if names, addresses or numbers cannot be reconciled. Contact the regulator or pharmacy using independently obtained details.
Northern Ireland
Use the PSNI register for Northern Ireland
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is the regulator for pharmacies, pharmacists and trainees in Northern Ireland. Use its register when the supplying premises or professional is based there.
Search the PSNI register →Second safety check
Check the MHRA Not Recommended list
The MHRA checker lets you search a website address against its list of suspicious online sellers. A website appearing on that list may be selling illegally and may offer unauthorised or fake products. Absence from the list is not proof of quality, so complete the pharmacy registration checks as well.
Check a suspicious seller on GOV.UK →After registration
Registration is necessary, but it is not the whole comparison
A valid registration tells you the premises or professional is on the regulator's record. You should still understand the clinical process, total price, delivery arrangements, privacy information and routes for advice or complaints.
Common questions
Online pharmacy FAQs
- How do I check an online pharmacy with the GPhC?
- Open the General Pharmaceutical Council registers, search for the pharmacy name, postcode or registration number shown on the website, and compare the registered premises details with the business that says it will supply the order.
- Does the GPhC regulate every UK pharmacy?
- The GPhC regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and registered pharmacy premises in Great Britain. Pharmacies and pharmacists in Northern Ireland are regulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
- Is a professional-looking website proof that a pharmacy is registered?
- No. Website appearance, reviews and a displayed registration number are not substitutes for checking an official register yourself. Compare names, addresses and registration details rather than checking only that a number exists.
- What should I do if an online seller looks suspicious?
- Do not place an order or provide more personal information. Check the MHRA's Not Recommended list and use the reporting route linked from the official checker. If you think you have taken a fake medicine and feel unwell, seek medical help.
Editorial standards
Official sources and safety
This guide is general information, not medical advice. A pharmacy registration check does not establish that a service is suitable for you. Ask a pharmacist, GP or another appropriate healthcare professional about your circumstances.