Botox crackdown pledged by regulator after BBC investigation
The pharmacists watchdog has vowed to investigate and “take action” after the BBC revealed illegal and potentially dangerous practices in the cosmetic Botox industry.
Under UK law, Botox can only be dispensed on prescription by a qualified doctor after a face-to-face consultation with the patient, to check that it is safe for them.
But undercover BBC researchers caught several pharmacists trying to prescribe the drug to beauticians for use on people who had not been clinically assessed.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) said it was continuing to review the BBC’s evidence for its own investigation.
Its chief enforcement officer, Dionne Spence, said: “We will take enforcement action against pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians when necessary to protect patient safety. »
Under UK law, only a doctor, nurse prescriber, pharmacist or dentist is legally allowed to prescribe botulinum toxin – commonly known as Botox – after an appropriate face-to-face clinical assessment.
They should also ensure that the medication is provided to an experienced injector to administer.
But the BBC investigation revealed a series of offenses committed by regulated pharmacists.
East London pharmacist Cornelius Agoye, from Rainham, was filmed selling bottles of Botox to an undercover BBC reporter who posed as a beautician intending to inject Botox into a client.
Mr. Agoye asked the reporter to complete documents that would create a false report about an ongoing patient consultation.
He also told the BBC that he was prepared to illegally supply additional Botox under the same prescription for use on other patients. – which constitutes fraud.
When contacted by the BBC, Mr Agoye apologized and admitted his conduct fell below professional standards.
Other pharmacists filmed or interviewed by undercover BBC researchers posing as beauticians described taking similar shortcuts.
One suggested skipping required face-to-face consultations and falsifying photographs to make regulators believe a patient had been seen.
The investigation also revealed potentially dangerous activities beyond community pharmacies.
These include a nurse offering to sell prescriptions via WhatsApp for money, and a fake doctor selling an unlicensed and potentially dangerous Korean drug on the black market.
Ms Spence told the BBC she was “very concerned” and “incredibly disappointed” by the findings.
“Our guidelines are also clear: when providing non-surgical cosmetic medical products such as Botox, there must be a physical examination of the person to support a safe prescribing decision,” she said.
She said the GPhC had already strengthened its guidance on the supply of medicines online and was working closely with other industry watchdogs to regulate the supply of Botox prescriptions.
“We are also working with governments and policymakers to identify how the legal and regulatory framework in this area could be strengthened and how to close possible legislative gaps,” she said.
Following concerns over unsafe practices in the beauty industry, the government is considering new legislation to close loopholes and crack down on “cowboy cosmetic procedures”.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it was developing a new national licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, designed to protect patients and raise standards across the sector.
