CSN News: Weight loss jabs now require stricter regulations because they are deemed “high risk”.

In the UK, the availability of weight-loss injections such as Ozempic Mounjaro Wegovy will be more closely regulated following concerns about some online pharmacies prescribing these medications in an inappropriate manner.

General Pharmaceutical Council has released new guidelines for safer prescribing. Weight-loss injections are now classified as “high risk medicines”, meaning that additional safety checks must be performed before they can be dispensed.

The new prescription rules for weight loss jabs

This crackdown comes after reports that online pharmacies were approving weight-loss injectables solely based on information provided by users via online questionnaires. The Guardian After a recent investigation it was reported that some patients with eating disorders or healthy weights were able obtain the drugs even though they did not meet medical criteria.

Concerns also arose about the setting of prescription targets by hour, whereby pharmacies may have placed profits before patient safety. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), along with other regulatory agencies, urged tighter controls to avoid misuse.

Duncan Rudkin (CEO of the GPhC) stressed that online pharmacy should only sell weight loss drugs if a prescription has been given by a doctor. (The Guardian cites The Guardian.)

New prescription procedures for weight loss drugs

According to the new regulations it is no longer possible to prescribe weight-loss injections based solely on phone calls or emails, online questionnaires and photographs.

Prescribers are required to independently verify the height, weight and BMI of a patient through video consultation, in-person assessment or medical records.

Online pharmacies also need to get the consent of their patients before they can issue a prescription. The prescriber will need to assess the safety of the prescription if the patient refuses, or does not have an established doctor.

If pharmacies fail to follow these guidelines, they may face enforcement actions including operation restrictions or suspensions.

Nick Kaye, the chair of National Pharmacy Association(NPA), said:

“We hope that the updated guidance will help to protect the safety of our patients.”

However, some experts claim that the reforms don’t go far enough. Dr Piotr Ozieranski of the University of Bath has questioned the feasibility of verifying someone’s height and body weight through video calls. He also expressed concerns about the reliability of pharmacies’ access to GP records, given high demand for services and pressures on the NHS..

There are also concerns over the financial conflict of interest that exists when some pharmacies, and even pharmacists, receive payments from pharmaceutical companies. Ozieranski suggested banning these payments would prevent commercial pressures to influence prescribing.

The new rules were designed to protect the safety of patients and prevent inappropriate prescribing. Experts warn, however, that there may be more control needed, especially in regards to financial conflicts of interests and patient support following treatment.