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Written Question
Prescription Drugs: Sales
Thursday 5th February 2026

Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help restrict the sale of illegal prescription drugs online.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the regulation of medicines for human use, medical devices, and blood products for transfusion in the United Kingdom. This includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply, and advertising of medicines which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Sourcing medicines from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not authorised for use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict quality and safety standards and could expose patients to incorrect dosages or dangerous ingredients. The MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices. It works closely with other health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners, including e-commerce and the internet industry to identify, remove, and block online content promoting the illegal sale of medicines and medical devices.

The MHRA seeks to identify and, where appropriate, prosecute online sellers responsible for putting public health at risk. In 2025, the MHRA and its partners seized almost 20 million doses of illegally traded medicines with a street value of nearly £45 million.

During the same period, it disrupted over 1,500 websites and posts on social media accounts selling medicinal products illegally. Additionally, collaboration with one well-known online marketplace led to the successful identification and blocking of more than two million unregulated prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and medical devices before they could be offered for sale to the public.

The MHRA is continually developing new and innovative ways to combat the illegal trade in medicines and to raise public awareness. These measures include:

- publication of a #Fakemeds campaign which explains how to access medicines through safe and legitimate online sources, with further information available at the following link:
https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/;

- public guidance on how to safely access and use GLP-1 medications, available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know.

- implementation of a web-based reporting scheme allowing users to report suspicious online sellers to the MHRA;

- rollout of an online service which will allow users to check if a website has been deemed ‘Not Recommended’ by the MHRA; and

- extensive work with media outlets to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal medicines.

Scheduled Event - 4 Feb 2026, 2:30 p.m. - Add to calendar
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Commons - Westminster Hall debate - Westminster Hall
Postal services in rural areas
MP: Stuart Anderson
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"Thank you for your excellent time management, Mr Stringer. It is great to be able to wind up the debate. I thank every Member who attended, particularly those from Shropshire and the surrounding area: the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Helen Morgan), my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

View all Stuart Anderson (Con - South Shropshire) contributions to the debate on: Postal Services: Rural Areas
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered postal services in rural areas.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. Residents of rural areas such as South Shropshire deserve access to good postal services, which keep families and friends connected, businesses alive and people informed. …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"I look back fondly on the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, and I realise that this is a problem across the country. It is a nationwide issue, as he rightly pointed out.

I have also campaigned for the resumption of postal services in Cleobury Mortimer, which were closed in 2023, leaving the …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"The hon. Gentleman makes a brilliant point about an issue that affects rural areas, and I will come on to how Bishop’s Castle was impacted. There is no resilience in the system. If somebody is ill for a week, that area will not get those services.

Data published by the …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"The hon. Lady makes a brilliant point, and I would like the Minister to feed back on the Government’s approach because these services are vital lifelines for our rural communities.

Despite last week’s sticking plaster U-turn, shops face a huge increase in their business rates bill, and next year alone …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"The hon. Member raises a really important point. Out of respect for my constituents and what they have been through, I will come on to highlight some of their concerns. When using Evri or other delivery services, everybody has learned what the whole street’s doorsteps look like when they see …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"I do; my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour and I share the same concerns. Actually, I shamelessly looked at his Facebook post, thought it was a great idea and pushed it out to my constituents, among whom there is sheer anger about the lack of delivery.

In July 2025, Ofcom …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Postal Services: Rural Areas

"The hon. Member makes an interesting point. I have launched my own survey today—I will push it out later—to hear more details from residents. There is a need to be honest about this issue. More often than not, people will contact us as MPs; it is not always easy for …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

View all Stuart Anderson (Con - South Shropshire) contributions to the debate on: Postal Services: Rural Areas