Pharmacy leaders warn over online sales of weight-loss jabs

Pharmacy leaders have issued a fresh warning over the online sale of weight-loss jabs insisting there is still a risk to patient safety.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has called for tougher rules in a letter to regulators, adding it was aware of people who previously had eating disorders or whose body weight was already low, being wrongly prescribed the drugs.

They argue a two-way consultation with the patient lasting at least 20 minutes is needed rather than relying on online questionnaires to access drugs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro.

“It is also important to ensure that clinical decisions regarding weight loss injections are not influenced by financial targets or incentives,” NPA chairman Nick Kaye said.

The NPA has written to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) saying current rules leave the door open for medicines to be supplied without appropriate checks “and the risk to patient safety remains”.

The call comes amid warnings of a boom in demand for weight-loss jabs this year as ministers look to expand the rollout of the medication on the NHS.

Mr Kaye told the PA news agency: “Obesity is one of the biggest challenges facing our country and pharmacies want to play their part in helping patients lose and maintain a healthy weight.

“Weight-loss injections can play an important role in efforts to tackle obesity when prescribed as part of a carefully managed treatment programme for patients who are most in need of support.

“However, we are concerned that the current regulations allow some patients to inappropriately access weight-loss injections without proper consultation or examination of historical medical records.”

Hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to get their prescriptions privately through online pharmacies.

Weight-loss jabs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings.

The NPA has previously urged patients to avoid buying weight loss injections from unregulated online sellers, who may be selling fake drugs.

A person’s medical history should also be examined before sellers decide whether or not to dispense a weight-loss injection, and regular reviews must take place, it added.

A spokesperson from the GPhC said it requires all pharmacies, including those online, to ensure the way services are delivered safeguards the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public.

They added: “We have published guidance specifically for the safe and effective provision of pharmacy services at a distance which we expect online pharmacies in Great Britain to follow.

“We will be issuing an updated version shortly, which will set out additional safeguards around high-risk medicines, including medicines used for weight management.”