# Online Pharmacy Consultation Cost UK | Pick My Pharmacy URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/answers/how-much-does-a-private-online-consultation-cost/ Description: Most UK online pharmacies charge no separate consultation fee — it's bundled into the treatment price. Standalone consultations typically cost £15–£35. --- - [Home](/) - /[Answers](/answers/) - /How much does a private online pharmacy consultation cost? Costs & Charges # How much does a private online pharmacy consultation cost? By [Kaiser Khan](/author/kaiser-khan/) · Updated 9 July 2026 In short Most UK online pharmacies charge no separate consultation fee — the cost of the prescriber's review is bundled into the treatment-service price you pay for the medicine. Where a standalone consultation is charged, typically for a pharmacist or prescriber appointment not tied to a specific treatment, expect £15–£35. Remember that a "free consultation" does not mean free treatment: the medicine itself is where the cost sits. At a glance - ·Most online pharmacies: no separate consultation fee — it is built into the treatment price - ·Standalone pharmacist or prescriber consultations: typically £15–£35 - ·"Free consultation" does not mean free treatment — the medicine carries the cost - ·Consultations are usually an online questionnaire reviewed by a registered prescriber - ·Some treatments require ID or photo verification before supply - ·A pharmacy can decline to supply — reputable services refund if you are unsuitable ## Why most consultations look free The dominant pricing model among UK online pharmacies is the bundled treatment service: one price covers the consultation, the prescriber's review, the medicine, and delivery. On that model the consultation has no separate price tag, which is why so many sites advertise a free consultation. The cost has not disappeared — it is absorbed into the treatment price, which is why the same generic medicine can cost more through an online consultation service than the raw pharmacy price would suggest. The practical upshot for comparison: ignore whether the consultation is labelled free and compare the total you would pay for the treatment, including any delivery charge, across two or three GPhC-registered pharmacies. ## When you pay a standalone fee Some services charge separately for the consultation itself, typically £15–£35. You will see this where the consultation is the product — a video or phone appointment with a pharmacist or independent prescriber to discuss symptoms, review medicines, or obtain a private prescription you can take elsewhere — and at some online doctor services that charge a consultation or prescription fee on top of the medicine price. A standalone fee is not automatically worse value: a private prescription you can shop around with sometimes beats a bundled price, particularly for higher-cost medicines. Before paying, check whether the fee is refunded or credited if the clinician decides not to prescribe, and whether there is an additional charge per prescription issued. ## What the consultation actually involves For most treatments the consultation is a structured medical questionnaire covering your symptoms, medical history, current medicines, and allergies, reviewed by a registered prescriber — a doctor, or a pharmacist independent prescriber — before any medicine is dispensed. Some treatments carry extra verification: weight loss injections commonly require photo or video confirmation of your weight, and services may run ID checks to confirm age and identity or to prevent duplicate accounts. Video or phone follow-up is used where the prescriber needs more detail. This process is a legal requirement for prescription-only medicines, not an upsell — a website that supplies POMs with no questions asked is operating outside UK regulation and should be avoided regardless of price. ## The pharmacy can say no A genuine consultation has two possible outcomes, and one of them is a refusal. The prescriber can decline to supply if the treatment is unsuitable — your answers suggest an interaction, you fall outside the eligibility criteria, or your symptoms need a GP or in-person examination instead. Reputable pharmacies make this clear up front and refund the treatment payment if you are declined; a service that guarantees approval is a red flag, because it means no real clinical judgement is being applied. If you are declined, that is useful information rather than an obstacle: take it to your GP or a pharmacist. This page is general information, not medical advice — speak to a pharmacist or GP about your own situation. Next step ## Compare Pharmacies for What You Need See NHS services, private prices, and reviews side by side — GPhC-checked, free, and no obligation. Pharmacies you don't pick never see your details. [Browse pharmacies](/pharmacies/)[Prescription Cost calculators →](/calculators/) ## People Also Ask Is a free online consultation really free?+ You pay nothing if you are not prescribed anything, so in that sense yes. But if you proceed, the consultation cost is built into the treatment price. Compare the total treatment cost between pharmacies rather than being swayed by the word free. Do I pay the consultation fee if I'm declined?+ On the bundled model you are normally refunded the treatment price in full if the prescriber declines to supply. Where a standalone consultation fee is charged, policies vary — some refund, some keep the fee since the clinician's time was used. Check the refund policy before paying. Who reviews an online pharmacy consultation?+ A registered prescriber — a GMC-registered doctor or a pharmacist independent prescriber registered with the GPhC. The pharmacy dispensing the medicine must itself be on the GPhC register, which you can check free at pharmacyregulation.org. Why do some treatments need ID or photo checks?+ For medicines where eligibility depends on a measurable fact — weight loss injections and BMI, for example — prescribers verify rather than take answers on trust, often via photo or video. ID checks also confirm age and help prevent people obtaining duplicate supplies from multiple pharmacies. Keep reading - [What does a private prescription cost in the UK?](/answers/what-does-a-private-prescription-cost/) - [How do I check if an online pharmacy is legit?](/answers/how-do-i-check-if-an-online-pharmacy-is-legit/) - [Are online pharmacies safe to use?](/answers/are-online-pharmacies-safe/) - [What is a distance-selling pharmacy?](/answers/what-is-a-distance-selling-pharmacy/) - [Online pharmacy treatment prices](/treatments/) - [Online pharmacy UK guide](/guides/online-pharmacy-uk/) - [What does a private prescription cost?](/answers/what-does-a-private-prescription-cost/) **Affiliate disclosure:**Pick My Pharmacy is free to use. We may earn a fee when you visit a referral partner or send a private-service enquiry. That never changes ratings, match results, or the prices you pay. Outbound partner links userel="sponsored". See[affiliate compliance](/methodology/#affiliate-compliance)and[how we make money](/how-it-works/). This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk) or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our[methodology](/methodology/).