A BBC undercover investigation conducted in June 2025 revealed a troubling truth: online pharmacies were able to issue prescriptions for potent GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, simply by using falsified patient data submitted via questionnaires and photos without any video consultation, verified medical records, or clinical engagement.
GLP-1 agonists, which mimic the hunger-reducing hormone, are classified as high-risk medications by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Following the BBC’s tests, the GPhC reiterated that online services must verify a patient’s height, weight, BMI, and access relevant records and conduct either a video or in-person consultation before prescribing. Despite this, prescriptions were issued within days based on incomplete, and in some cases manipulated, submissions.
Why this matters: The risks of questionnaire-only prescribing
Online prescribing services offer clear advantages including greater accessibility, shorter wait times, and discretion for patients. However, the risks of removing meaningful clinical verification are significant, particularly with high-risk drugs like GLP-1s, which have serious potential side effects, including gastrointestinal issues, allergic reactions, and psychological complications such as disordered eating.
The investigation revealed:
- Patients could easily alter their weight data to qualify for treatment.
- Hair loss after receiving Mounjaro from an online provider using inaccurate information.
- There were no safeguards in place to screen for eating disorders or confirm medical histories via GP records or direct consultation.
As the demand for these medications continues to grow, the pressure on digital providers to supply fast solutions must not override the principles of patient safety.
The role of independent clinical investigation
At TMLEP, our experience in clinical investigations highlights why independent reviews are essential when safety concerns arise, especially in evolving care models like digital health.
When incidents occur, a thorough investigation:
- Reconstructs the clinical journey, identifying not just what went wrong, but why, highlighting system gaps, training issues, or misaligned protocols.
- Provides clarity and accountability, ensuring that patients, providers, and organisations understand the facts behind adverse events.
- Drives change, informing policy updates, improving clinical governance frameworks, and ultimately helping to prevent recurrence.
As a national leader in healthcare investigations, TMLEP is uniquely positioned to support digital health providers and regulators in embedding proactive, evidence-based safety measures into their models before harm occurs.
Strengthening the framework: What needs to happen next
To ensure online prescribing evolves responsibly, we must embed safeguards that mirror the rigour of in-person care. This includes:
- Mandatory audit trails within digital systems to track prescribing rationale and safeguard against misuse.
- Routine oversight and mystery shopper-testing by regulators to assess compliance in real time.
- Cross-sector collaboration between independent investigators, digital health developers, and prescribers to design safer, more accountable systems.
- Clear escalation pathways for when prescribing protocols are bypassed, so that patient concerns lead to action.
The GPhC has taken commendable steps in tightening guidance and committing to enforcement, but as the digital landscape rapidly evolves, so must our mechanisms for learning, review, and prevention.
Conclusion: Innovation demands integrity
Digital prescribing holds tremendous potential. But innovation without scrutiny leads to blind spots, and ultimately, to preventable harm.
At TMLEP, we believe that every healthcare model, traditional or digital, must be built on a foundation of safety, transparency, and learning. Independent clinical investigation is not just about identifying errors; it’s about enabling better systems, empowering patients, and informing future models of care.
As the healthcare sector embraces new tools and technologies, the imperative remains the same: to do no harm, and to hold ourselves accountable when harm occurs.
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