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Virtual GP service to pay fine for prescribing without CQC registration

A Judge has ruled that Pharmacorp must pay £13,670 covering fines, legal costs and a victim surcharge for prescribing drugs without a CQC registration. The online GP service, also known as Medicines Direct, pleaded guilty at Tameside Magistrates’ Court Friday 18 February. It was fined £3,500, in addition to £10,000 costs and a £170 victim surcharge after being prosecuted by the CQC.

Drugs such as pregabalin, co-codamol and gabapentin were being prescribed to patients by doctors in Romania who appeared to be based in the UK. CQC’s head of registration Emma Boger said: ‘I hope this outcome sends a clear message to others that where we find providers operating outside of the law, we will always use our enforcement powers to protect people and hold them to account to stop poor and illegal practice.’

Full story in Pulse, 18 February 2022

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