Online acne drug seller investigated by BBC programme

The BBC has broadcast a programme investigating the illegal online selling of the acne drug Roaccutane in the UK.

The programme Inside Out centred around the investigation of a Turkish company, which has a registered office in Coventy and had reportedly been selling the drug in the UK for 10 years.

Roaccutane has been reported to have serious side effects including links with depression and suicidal thoughts and is only supposed to be prescribed for the treatment of severe acne. Cem Tural, who runs the company, told the BBC he had "no idea" it was illegal to sell the drug without a prescription in the UK and would withdraw the stock. Lydia Scammell, senior enforcement advisor at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory (MHRA) told the BBC that the agency takes a tough line on illegal selling of prescription drugs online but policing it can be difficult.  

She said, "The MHRA are very concerned about the sale of certain goods over the internet.There are strict regulatory controls of medicines and the supplies of medicine and a medicine like Roaccutane not only needs a prescription, it needs a prescription by a consultant dermatologist. Any supply of that medicine without a prescription is a criminal offence in the United Kingdom.”