- Alexander Philip Clarke obtained prescription-only medicines from Chinese website.
- Orders included semaglutide, nitrofurantoin, amoxicillin, baclofen, and tianeptine.
- Investigation began in October 2023 after concern was raised.
A Pharmacist with “many years of experience” has been warned for unlicensed drug purchases following an investigation by the General Pharmaceutical Council's fitness-to-practice committee.
In a hearing that took place between January 5 and 8, the General Pharmaceutical Council’s fitness-to-practice committee said Alexander Philip Clarke “should have known better” and he “ignored the basic expectations of his profession”.
Clarke obtained prescription-only medicines that were outside the UK regulatory framework from a Chinese website, including “one or more” orders of semaglutide, nitrofurantoin, amoxicillin, baclofen and tianeptine between June and October 2023. The hearing also found that Clarke had “consumed a quantity” of tianeptine.
The investigation, which began in October 2023, was triggered after a concern was reported to the regulator about Clarke’s actions.
It noted that a warning “would serve to underscore the seriousness” of the situation but added that Clarke had since “implemented changes to [his] practice in order to avoid similar conduct”.
The warning will be published and remain on the register for 12 months.
