Patients to Get Weight-Loss Drugs Directly From Pharmacists, No Doctor Visit Required

Pharmacists are ready to dispense weight-loss injections soon. NHS .

As per government proposals, obtaining medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro would only require a brief over-the-counter discussion, costing the same as an NHS prescription—which currently remains fixed at £9.90.

The Mail has learned that a substantial agreement valued at tens of millions of pounds is set to be made with a leading pharmaceutical company. This deal aims to finance an initial trial program throughout the UK, which could ultimately lead to providing support for all those who require it.

Currently, these potent treatments are accessible to just a small fraction of individuals through the NHS—following consultations with specialists and alongside other weight-reduction strategies. The wait time for this treatment extends over two years.

However, ministers intend to significantly broaden the usage of these medications by swiftly and effortlessly providing prescriptions via innovative methods like retail pharmacy chains, healthcare facilities, and applications.

This implies that once the agreement is finalized, you'll be able to enter a pharmacy, undergo a brief evaluation, and then depart with a dose of injections for £9.90.

A source stated: "Individuals with means are already acquiring them through private channels, however, we recognize that individuals from specific backgrounds consistently get overlooked when it comes to such forms of assistance."

This ensures that local pharmacies and reliable medical support organizations are included in the rollout from the start.

Over a quarter (28 percent) of adults in England are obese, with an additional 36 percent being overweight. This obesity epidemic places a burden of over £6 billion annually on the NHS and significantly impacts the economy through lost productivity and higher benefit payouts.

Weight-loss injections can be purchased directly from retail pharmacists or online drugstores after a brief discussion with a pharmacist. These typically range from £120 to £250 for a monthly dosage.

It is estimated that around 500,000 individuals in Britain have received these injections, with many acquiring them through private means. During clinical trials, participants shed between 15 to 20 percent of their body weight, varying according to the specific medication used.

Given that there are around 14 million individuals who are obese in the nation, implementing this for everyone simultaneously might drain the resources of the NHS, hence it should be introduced progressively.

On the other hand, critics argued that taxpayers shouldn’t have to cover the costs of ‘fashionable’ medications, which wouldn’t be necessary if individuals opted for more healthful living.

Katharine Jenner, who leads the Obesity Health Alliance, stated that patients require supervision from experts capable of ensuring these medications are utilized safely.

"Obesity is a long-term, recurring ailment with numerous underlying factors," she stated.

We embrace investments that assist individuals dealing with overweight issues in obtaining essential support—but medications alone do not provide the complete answer.

John O'Connell, who leads the TaxPayers' Alliance, stated: "Taxpayers have every right to wonder if distributing weight-loss medications so extensively is the most effective way to spend their funds."

Although addressing obesity is crucial, government officials should guarantee that this program provides good value for money and does not lead to uncontrolled expenses or inefficiency.

Dr. Kamila Hawthorne, who chairs the Royal College of General Practitioners, stated: "There is significant promise in weight-loss medications."

To assist patients having difficulty losing weight, and who fulfill all the necessary clinical requirements for obtaining a prescription.

However, these medications shouldn’t be viewed as an instant solution for shedding pounds or a quick way to reach a specific weight target.

The upcoming rollout must undergo regular assessments to confirm that these guidelines provide lasting advantages for patients. Additionally, we need to verify that primary care providers along with the broader NHS have sufficient capability and resources to deliver treatments securely.

This development occurred as the World Health Organization was set to formally approve weight-loss medications aimed at addressing adult obesity for the first time. A leaked memo obtained by Reuters disclosed this change of stance, following previous statements from the WHO indicating they couldn’t endorse these drugs due to insufficient information regarding their long-term impacts.

This suggestion might result in adding the medications not only to the recommended list but also to its essential medicines roster, potentially increasing their global accessibility.

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