PATIENTS are being warned about the dangers of counterfeit medicines after it emerged only 54 per cent of people felt they could spot a fake online pharmacy.

A new survey from the Oxford Online Pharmacy revealed that 44 per cent of people felt they would only be reassured an online pharmacy was genuine if it had a "bricks and mortar" store.

The survey of 1,000 adults also found 40 per cent of people had come across an online pharmacy they believed to be fake.

Online pharmacies must have a Government logo displayed on their site to show they are legally allowed to sell medicines and dispense prescriptions.

But only 39 per cent of respondents were aware of industry logos as a mark of authentic pharmacies.

Pharmacy owner Stuart Gale, who runs the Frost Pharmacy Group of three pharmacies in Banbury and Oxford, warned of the dangers of buying counterfeit drugs.

He said: "The convenience of an online pharmacy, along with the discretion such a service provides for managing certain embarrassing conditions, is clearly something which appeals to customers.

"However, with so many counterfeit medicines making their way onto the market and almost daily horror stories of people suffering and even dying from taking them, it is not surprising that consumers don't know where to turn."

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) introduced a mandatory logo last year, for display on every page of any website offering medicines for sale to the general public.

This logo, as well as the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC) are meant to act as "seals of approval" to show patients the pharmacy is legally allowed to dispense medicines.

But while 95 per cent of people said they would buy medicines from an online pharmacy, 41 per cent said they had not used an online service for fear it would be counterfeit.

Mr Gale, who also owns and manages the Oxford Online Pharmacy, said there are simple checks people can make to ensure it is a legitimate business.

Mr Gale added: "Any steps taken by the industry to reassure consumers is to be encouraged.

"But, as our research shows, the message isn't getting through."

He said to check if the site is linked to a registered UK pharmacy and if the link works, whether people can ring up and speak to a pharmacist, whether it have the MHRA and GPhC logos on it, and whether the site is offering prescription-only medication without a prescription.

Mr Gale added: "Prescription only medication is prescription only for a reason.

"It requires the involvement of a GP enabling them to diagnose the condition and identify the best medicine to treat the individual patient.

"If a site is offering Viagra, for example, without a prescription the message is simple: do not buy it - it is illegal and there is a strong chance that what you are buying will be fake and could adversely affect your health."