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The General Pharmaceutical Council has confirmed to P3pharmacy that it spoke to Asda this week regarding reports that the company has removed a stage of ID checks from its online doctor’s weight loss service. 

A screenshot was shared on social media this week of an internal Asda communication stating that in order to “prioritise simplicity and efficiency” the company had “decided to remove the additional ID checks” for patients who have been prescribed weight loss medicines through the company’s online doctor service. 

An Asda spokesperson told P3pharmacy that ID checks are carried out during every weight loss consultation before any medicines are prescribed and that the change – which they said was made before the GPhC announced its updated guidance for online pharmacies – means that the company no longer asks for additional proof of identification at the point of handout. 

An Asda Online Doctor spokesperson told P3pharmacy: "At Asda Online Doctor, our GMC-registered doctors provide safe weight loss consultations which includes various levels of identity checking as standard.

“All patients complete assessments and must follow our additional safeguard and verification steps which includes providing their registered GP details. 

“Secure patient accounts enable seamless communication between doctors and patients, whilst all ASDA Pharmacists have access to a dedicated clinical line to support ongoing patient care."

Confirming that it had spoken to Asda about the issue, a GPhC spokesperson commented on the implications of its beefed-up guidance for online pharmacies: “We’ve strengthened the safeguards that all online pharmacies are expected to put in place, in response to concerns we’ve identified. 

“For medicines used for weight-management, the prescriber will have to independently verify the information the person provides by having a consultation with them via video or in-person, reviewing their clinical records or by contacting their GP. 

“This will help prevent people providing false information about their weight, to obtain medicines that are not clinically appropriate for them and could cause them harm.

“As the pharmacy regulator, we need to respond appropriately to emerging issues and concerns, which is why we have updated the guidance and included specific new safeguards relating to medicines used for weight management.

“These safeguards will help make sure people only receive these medicines if they have had an appropriate consultation and the prescriber has independently verified that the medicines are clinically appropriate for them.”