It’s going to be harder to get weight loss jabs now – here’s why

London: New rules are changing how people get weight loss jabs. If you want to buy them online, expect stricter checks. This is to ensure safety for everyone using these medications.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) now requires online pharmacies to have a consultation with patients. You can’t just fill out a questionnaire anymore. This change aims to make sure jabs like Wegovy and Ozempic are prescribed safely.

Pharmacists must verify your body mass index (BMI) through a video call, in person, or by checking medical records. Before, you could get these drugs just by sending an email or filling out a form.

These changes come after reports of people getting prescriptions without proper checks. Some pharmacies even had targets for how quickly they processed prescriptions, which raised concerns.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) pushed for these tougher rules. They noticed some people with eating disorders or low body weight were wrongly prescribed these jabs.

Now, prescribers must independently verify your weight and height. They can’t just take your word for it. This means they need to use different methods to confirm your information.

Clinicians must also ask for your GP’s details and get your permission to contact them. They need to share all relevant information about your prescription with other healthcare providers.

If online pharmacies ignore these new rules, they could face serious consequences. Weight-loss drugs are now considered high-risk medicines, requiring extra safeguards.

Duncan Rudkin, the GPhC chief executive, emphasized that online pharmacies must ensure proper consultations before supplying any medication. This is crucial for patient safety.

Weight loss jabs help reduce cravings and are available on the NHS for those with a high BMI. Many people also get prescriptions privately through online pharmacies.