Wegovy identity checks and PASS cards

Separate the three decisions

A provider may need to establish your identity, verify relevant clinical information and decide whether a prescription is appropriate. Passing one stage does not complete the others. Government identity guidance describes checking whether evidence is genuine and valid; it is not a list of documents every pharmacy must accept. [1]

Ask which stage failed. “We cannot read this image”, “this document type is unsupported” and “the prescriber needs further clinical information” call for different responses. Knowing the reason helps you request the right assistance, rather than repeatedly uploading the same document or buying a card that addresses the wrong problem.

Ask before applying for a PASS card

PASS is a scheme accrediting proof-of-age card issuers. [2] Its scope does not create an obligation for every Wegovy provider or identity-checking contractor to accept every card. Confirm the issuer and whether a physical card, expiry status or another supporting document is required.

Get confirmation from the medical service rather than a search snippet or affiliate list. Ask whether acceptance applies to both initial and repeat consultations. If you have already paid for a consultation, check its terms and ask how unresolved verification affects the fee. Do not buy multiple forms of ID on the assumption that one must eventually unlock treatment.

Request a supported assessment route

If you lack photo ID, explain what evidence is available and why the standard process is difficult. Ask about a supported or in-person option. If a name or address differs across documents, ask how to provide the connection accurately. Do not edit an image to make details match; supply the explanation and evidence the provider requests.

Check the destination for uploads before sharing. Ask who receives the information, why it is needed and where the privacy notice can be read. A legitimate request should come through an identifiable service with a clear process. Registration is a useful check, but it does not justify sending every sensitive document to any email address that uses a pharmacy's name.

Make a pen transfer clinically clear

Tell the new service whether you have used FlexTouch or the separate single-dose pen, the prescribed dose, last administration date and any interruption. These are different Wegovy presentations, so do not ask the service to infer treatment history from the word “Wegovy” alone. [3] [4]

Ask how previous records should be transferred and whether a review is required before another supply. A successful ID upload cannot establish safe continuation after a treatment gap. If the team needs to verify weight or other health information, use its stated process. Do not reuse someone else's photographs, documents or account to speed it up.

Use the right regulator and keep a record

Check the GPhC pharmacy register for a pharmacy in Great Britain. [8] GPhC guidance governs registered pharmacy distance services there. [5] For Northern Ireland, use the PSNI pharmacy register. [6] Northern Ireland also retains a distinct MHRA online-medicine-seller registration system; its distance-selling logo is not the corresponding system for Great Britain. [7]

Write down the pharmacy and prescriber details, instructions received and the outstanding step. If a service cannot accommodate your circumstances, ask a trusted pharmacist or GP about other legitimate routes. Do not accept “no ID, no assessment” as a benefit. The useful goal is access to a suitable clinical service, with an explanation you can understand and a way to resolve problems after treatment begins.

Questions and answers