Pharmacy bodies have warned that it is ‘unlikely’ that planned provision for weight loss jabs on the NHS will meet demand and therefore ‘many people’ will continue seeking the medication from a pharmacy.

From today, patients will be able to access tirzepatide (Mounjaro) through their GP practices, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, which will ‘be small initially’, according to NHS England.

The rollout is set to take place over the next three years and is expected to see approximately 220,000 individuals nationally become eligible for the treatment on the NHS.

However, some pharmacy organisations say that this will put pressure on supplies and that planned provision may not meet patient demand.

Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: ‘It is unlikely that the planned GP provision will be sufficient to meet patient demand.’

And he suggested that community pharmacies could support increased access.

‘Building on the expertise developed through private weight loss services, community pharmacies would be well placed to deliver wraparound weight loss care, to increase access where needed,’ said Mr Harrison.

NHS England said access to the jabs will be ‘prioritised for those with the greatest clinical need’.

The patients eligible will have a BMI of at least 40 and at least four out of five of the health conditions: type 2 diabetes mellitus; high blood pressure (hypertension); heart disease (cardiovascular disease); obstructive sleep apnoea; and abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia).

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‘The number of people who are eligible will be small initially, including those people living with obesity, in poor health with multiple obesity related conditions, as they would benefit most from the treatment,’ said NHS England.

Chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Olivier Picard, said the demand for weight loss jabs ‘continues to rise sharply, and more GPs have been directing patients back to pharmacies after initial enquiries, to access these treatments privately’.

‘As the NHS is now moving to implement NICE guidance, and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) becomes prescribable to more patients, we expect to see prescription volumes increase rapidly,’ he added.

‘However, NHS provision won’t meet demand straight away, so we fully expect that many people will continue seeking it privately from a pharmacy.’

‘Pharmacists are experts in medication and many of us have lots of experience delivering weight loss injections as part of a package of care including lifestyle advice.

‘We are well placed to help roll out weight loss treatment on the NHS, with the right funding to support it.’

And he warned the ‘biggest concern’ of the NPA is that ‘prescribing these medications alone misses the point’.

‘They should be part of a comprehensive weight management strategy – combining lifestyle coaching, exercise, and nutritional guidance,’ said Mr Picard.

‘In reality, many GPs lack the bandwidth to deliver the level of support needed to ensure proper understanding and follow-up.

‘As a result, we could end up in a situation where patients are prescribed the medication, lose weight, and then experience rebound weight gain once the course ends – simply because the foundational lifestyle changes weren’t addressed.’

Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), said the organisation welcomed ‘discussions on how community pharmacy could support access to weight loss treatments on the NHS’.

‘Pharmacists are medicines experts and already play a key role in weight management services.’

Dr Claire Fuller, co-national medical director (primary care) at NHS England, said today’s roll out on the NHS was ‘an important next step’.

‘We urgently need to address rising levels of obesity and prioritise support for those who are experiencing severe ill health – and greater access to weight loss drugs will make a significant difference to the lives of those people,’ she said.

‘These drugs are an important tool alongside the range of wraparound NHS support and advice on good nutrition and increasing physical activity, which will be vital in helping some people lose weight and reduce their risk of serious long-term conditions.’

Concerns over counterfeit and unregulated weight loss products

The news today comes as pharmacists and pharmacy organisations have expressed concern over patients buying potentially counterfeit and unregulated weight loss products online.

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Alwyn Fortune, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) policy and engagement lead in Wales said: ‘We are aware of growing concerns around unregulated and counterfeit supplies of weight loss injections, often bought online.

‘It’s important to stay vigilant and provide clear, evidence-based advice to support patient safety.

He advised pharmacists that: ‘If a patient asks for advice on weight loss medicine they’ve sourced online, inform them of the risks associated with unlicensed or counterfeit products – such as expired or harmful substances.

‘Reinforce the message that prescription-only medicines must only be accessed through a legitimate, regulated provider.’

Pharmacists should also encourage patients to check that any online pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), he added.

Community pharmacist from Luton Athif Arif told The Pharmacist that there was ‘selective information out there with many claims of weight loss but limited awareness of side effects’.

‘People are viewing this as a quick fix or short cut.’

He recalled: ‘I did have one patient who admitted to buying a vial of Semaglutide online.

‘I advised her not to use and provided her with diet and exercise advise on losing weight. I get many queries about whether we supply it through private channels. I normally direct patients to a regulated pharmacy that supplies through a stringent process.’

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He added that social media channels had promoted use of weight loss jabs and suggested ‘more regulation of these channels and better patient education’.

Mr Picard of the NPA added that it was ‘not uncommon for concerned patients to ask their local pharmacist for advice after having bought unregulated supplies of weight loss jabs online’.

‘Demand for weight loss medicines is such that some people are tempted to obtain them from disreputable sources,’ he said.

‘Medication from unregulated sellers could be fake, swapped for an alternative medication and not meet rigorous safety standards we have in the UK.

‘Medicines are not ordinary goods for sale, they must be handled with great care because they have the power to harm as well as to heal.’