Weight-loss jab checks to be tightened by pharmacies

Online pharmacies must now implement stricter checks to prevent those with a healthy weight or a history of eating disorders from purchasing weight-loss injections. This means they will no longer be able to dispense medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro to patients solely by filling out online questionnaires or sending photos.

To verify a patient's Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as obtain information from a general practitioner or medical records, face-to-face or video consultations must be conducted. Pharmacists who fail to comply with this new rule may face enforcement action, including investigations or inspections into their practice, and conditions such as improvement plans, according to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in the UK.

The GPhC is concerned about unsafe prescribing practices and potential supply issues, with reports that some online pharmacies have set targets for processing a certain number of prescriptions per hour. Additionally, prescribers will be told to "proactively" share information about the medications they are dispensing with patients' general practitioners.

GPhC Chief Executive Duncan Rudkin stated, "We know online pharmacy services can provide a very valuable service, but through our inspections and investigations, we've seen too many cases of medicines being supplied inappropriately online and putting people at risk." Weight-loss drugs are now classified as "high-risk" medications, requiring extra safety measures, and are available on the UK National Health Service (NHS) with very strict criteria.

Semaglutide and tirzepatide were originally used to help patients with type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar levels. However, in the past 3 to 4 years, they have started to be used as weight-loss aids, leading to global shortages and counterfeit products. Both medications are administered weekly via injection, self-injected with pre-filled pens into the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. Patients typically start with a low dose and then gradually increase it.

These drugs mimic the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released after eating and typically makes people feel fuller. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) also affects the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormone, which controls metabolism and helps regulate energy balance. Initial studies on weight-loss drugs have found they can significantly improve heart health, reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and high blood pressure.