Digital healthcare: how to safely order a prescription online

Digital health is transforming the way we seek treatment, order prescriptions, and find health and wellbeing resources. When it comes to treatment for weight loss, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and premature ejaculation, the discretion and ease of ordering prescription medication online seems like a no-brainer.

The main issue with so many healthcare providers moving online is that it can be tricky to know where to look, or how to know that what you're buying is safe. For this reason, there are many regulations that online healthcare providers must follow.

Licensed websites like Numan are transparent about their approval to prescribe medication online. Safeguarding our patients is, and always will be, our priority - which is why we are open about the regulations we adhere to.

CQC approval

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensures that health and social care services in England maintain high standards of excellence, care, and integrity. Reputable companies will be registered with the CQC. You can find our registration at the bottom of our webpages.

GPhC regulations

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published regulations for all pharmacies prescribing treatment online.

The GPhC guidelines introduced in 2019 were designed to ensure all online pharmacies adhere to safeguarding standards. They require all pharmacies to follow a few key processes:

1) All prescription treatment requires a consultation

At Numan, all prescription treatments require you to complete a short consultation before your order is reviewed and approved by one of our expert prescribers. This ensures that the medication is safe and appropriate for you.

2) All prescription treatment requires identity verification

To make sure any prescription medication is safe for you to take, all online pharmacies must carry out an ID check. This requires you to provide your correct first and last name, date of birth, and address.

Special requirement for weight loss medication

In February 2025, the GPhC introduced stricter requirements specifically for the online prescribing of weight-loss medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide.

Under these requirements, prescribers must independently verify a patient's weight, height, and BMI before prescribing, meaning they can no longer rely solely on a self-reported online questionnaire. Acceptable methods of verification include a video consultation, an in-person appointment, a review of existing clinical records, or contact with the patient's GP.

The guidance also requires that patients have access to a method of two-way communication with their prescriber - such as a video call - so they can ask questions and make properly informed decisions before treatment begins.

Certain approaches are explicitly not sufficient on their own: photographs, pre-recorded videos, and telephone calls do not meet the standard for verifying weight and BMI.

These measures were introduced to reduce the risk of weight-loss medications being supplied to people who may not be suitable candidates, including those who are already a healthy weight or who may have an underlying eating disorder.

What do I need to do to verify my ID?

To make the process as straightforward as possible, we have partnered with two verification companies: W2 Global Data and LexisNexis. When you place an order, our verification partners will automatically run a secure ID check against your full name, date of birth, and address.

In some cases, this automatic check may not be successful. If so, we'll contact you to request a photo ID and proof of address, such as your driving licence. Once received, we will pass your request to our prescribers. If you have already completed an ID check with us, you will not need to do so again - we only need to verify your identity once.

The Numan take

If you decide to buy prescription medication online, always make sure the company you are buying from is reputable and licensed to sell it. Check that they require you to complete an online consultation before purchasing, as this helps ensure the treatment is appropriate for you. And make sure you have provided your correct personal information including your name, date of birth, and address, as identity verification is there for your own safety.