"No consultation needed"
In UK medicines law, prescription-only medicines (POMs) including finasteride, dutasteride and oral minoxidil require a prescribing clinician's assessment before supply. Any pathway marketed as "no consultation needed" for a POM is misleading or unlawful.
Full definition
Under UK medicines law (Human Medicines Regulations 2012) prescription-only medicines may only be supplied against a prescription written by an authorised prescriber. The prescriber must satisfy themselves that supply is clinically appropriate. Asynchronous online consultations (questionnaire reviewed by a GMC-registered prescriber) are lawful and standard practice, these still constitute a consultation in regulatory terms. Marketing that suggests "no consultation needed" for a POM is misleading; the consultation may be brief, online and asynchronous, but it must exist.
What it does not mean
"No consultation needed" cannot mean a POM is supplied without prescriber review. It may be marketing shorthand for "no video call required" or "no in-person visit needed", but these are different things from no clinical review at all.
Examples in use
Honest use
"No in-person appointment needed. A GMC-registered prescriber reviews your case asynchronously, typically within 2 working hours during clinic hours."
Common misuse
"Get your finasteride without a consultation." (This implies bypassing UK medicines law.)
UK regulatory source
Human Medicines Regulations 2012; MHRA Blue Guide; CQC and GPhC standards for online prescribing services