Pharmacists in the UK may soon have the authority to prescribe weight-loss injections as part of a new initiative aimed at addressing rising obesity rates. Reports indicate that health officials are preparing to announce a trial scheme that would expand access to these treatments through pharmacies.
The initiative allows eligible patients to receive weight-loss injections, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, following a brief consultation at pharmacies. Historically, access to these medications has been restricted, with only one in ten eligible individuals currently able to obtain them through the National Health Service (NHS), as noted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Research indicates that an estimated half a million people are buying these weight-loss injections privately, highlighting a significant demand for such treatments. While health officials recommend that these injections be paired with additional weight-loss strategies, the current policy has faced challenges. Family doctors, burdened with heavy workloads, have struggled to facilitate the rollout of these drugs.
Professor Jason Halford of the European Association for the Study of Obesity commented on this development, stating, "I welcome efforts to increase availability of these drugs, and pharmacies could certainly play a part in that." However, he emphasised the importance of comprehensive support, including ongoing monitoring, psychological assistance, and nutritional advice, given the potent nature of these medications and their associated side effects. "These are powerful drugs and they do have side-effects," he continued. "I would definitely welcome efforts to trial new ways to roll out the drugs."
In a related statement, a government spokesperson affirmed the commitment to transitioning the NHS focus from treatment to prevention. "As the government shifts the NHS from sickness to prevention, we will be looking across the board at how these drugs can be made available to more people who can benefit from them," the official remarked. They also highlighted the NHS's adoption of innovative strategies to tackle obesity, including community care models and digital technologies designed to deliver these treatments as part of a holistic package of care.
The outcomes of this proposed trial scheme, including its structural implementation and effectiveness, are yet to be determined as the plan moves forward.
Source: Noah Wire Services