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| Weight-loss jab patients to face stricter checks in crackdown on pharmacies | |
| (7 days later) | |
| Weight-loss jabs will now require stricter prescribing criteria for online pharmacies | Weight-loss jabs will now require stricter prescribing criteria for online pharmacies |
| Online pharmacies will now have to employ stricter checks to stop people who are already a healthy weight or have a history of eating disorders buying weight-loss jabs. | Online pharmacies will now have to employ stricter checks to stop people who are already a healthy weight or have a history of eating disorders buying weight-loss jabs. |
| They will no longer be able to dispense the medication, sold under brand names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, to patients who have just completed online questionnaires or sent photos. | They will no longer be able to dispense the medication, sold under brand names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, to patients who have just completed online questionnaires or sent photos. |
| In-person or video consultations will be required, to verify patient body mass index (BMI), along with information from GP or medical records. | In-person or video consultations will be required, to verify patient body mass index (BMI), along with information from GP or medical records. |
| And pharmacists failing to follow this new guidance could face enforcement action, including fitness-to-practise investigations or inspections, and conditions such as improvement plans, the General Pharmaceutical Council says. | And pharmacists failing to follow this new guidance could face enforcement action, including fitness-to-practise investigations or inspections, and conditions such as improvement plans, the General Pharmaceutical Council says. |
| High risk | High risk |
| The GPhC is worried about about both unsafe prescribing and potential supply issues, with some online pharmacies reportedly setting targets to process a certain number of prescriptions per hour. | The GPhC is worried about about both unsafe prescribing and potential supply issues, with some online pharmacies reportedly setting targets to process a certain number of prescriptions per hour. |
| And prescribers will be told to "actively" share with a patient's GP information about what they are dispensing. | And prescribers will be told to "actively" share with a patient's GP information about what they are dispensing. |
| GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: "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." | GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: "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 classed as "high risk" medicines, requiring extra safeguards, and are offered on the NHS with very strict criteria. | |
| Counterfeit products | Counterfeit products |
| Semaglutide and tirzepatide were first used to help type 2 diabetes patients regulate their blood-sugar levels. | Semaglutide and tirzepatide were first used to help type 2 diabetes patients regulate their blood-sugar levels. |
| But in the past three to four years, they started being prescribed as a weight-loss aide, leading to global shortages and counterfeit products. | But in the past three to four years, they started being prescribed as a weight-loss aide, leading to global shortages and counterfeit products. |
| Both are given as weekly injections via pre-filled pens self-administered into the upper arm, thigh or stomach. | Both are given as weekly injections via pre-filled pens self-administered into the upper arm, thigh or stomach. |
| And patients generally start on a low dose, which is gradually increased. | And patients generally start on a low dose, which is gradually increased. |
| The drugs mimic the intestinal hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released after eating and typically makes people feel fuller. | The drugs mimic the intestinal 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. | Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) also affects the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormone, which controls metabolism and helps regulate energy balance. |
| The first study into weight-loss drugs has found they can significantly improve heart health, with lower levels of heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure. | The first study into weight-loss drugs has found they can significantly improve heart health, with lower levels of heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure. |