Health information on the Internet

Patient Health International.com

The information provided on this website is designed to help you in your discussions with health care professionals. It does not replace the need for a personal consultation with your health care professional. It should however help you to have a fuller and more meaningful interaction with your doctor, pharmacist, nurse etc.

Medicines use

• Most of the medicines mentioned on this site are available only on a prescription from a qualified health care professional. Never take prescription medicines unless they have been prescribed for you by a qualified health care professional after a personal consultation.
  
  
• Never take medicines that have been prescribed for someone else – even if your symptoms are similar.

Medicines from the Internet

• Some Internet sites offer online consultations and will issue prescriptions without the doctor meeting or examining you. This can be dangerous and we strongly advise that you consult your own health care professional.
  
  
• Some Internet sites offer to dispense prescriptions. In some countries reputable Internet pharmacies exist. However you should never submit your prescription to an Internet pharmacy unless you know it to be legally established, genuine and reputable. Some disreputable sites may supply counterfeit medicines, medicines that have not been properly stored or packs with foreign language instructions.
  

Medicines information on the Internet

• This site, and others from international research based pharmaceutical companies, undergoes extensive review by company doctors, pharmacists, lawyers and others to ensure, as far as possible, that the information it contains is reliable. The information is also subject to comprehensive codes of practice and laws.
  
  
• Information on medicines on pharmaceutical company websites may not be very detailed and the information directed at some nationalities (eg US citizens) is likely to be more comprehensive than information aimed at other nationalities (eg European countries). The main reason for this is different laws governing communications from companies and to be sure you have all the information you need you should always ask your health care professionals.
  
  
• There is a great deal of information on health and medicines on the Internet. Not all of it can be trusted to be accurate and reliable. Be cautious about believing what you read!
  
  
• Some health sites have ‘Quality Seals’. There are many different types of Quality Seal and some may give a false impression of quality. However there are some Seals and evaluation guides which are worth looking out for – see under ‘Useful Links’.

Questions about medicines

• If you have concerns or questions about your health or the medicines you are taking always contact your own doctor, pharmacist or other Health Care Professional

Useful links

Health on the Net
The DISCERN criteria for websites 
The URAC accreditation scheme 
European Commission health site quality criteria 
IFPMA - the international pharmaceutical companies trade organization