Concerns have been raised over a ‘worrying trend’ in the number of companies looking to employ pharmacists to sign off on weight loss prescriptions based solely on a patient questionnaire. Asynchronous prescribing of weight-loss medication, based purely on a patient questionnaire without a face-to-face consultation, has previously been described as ‘inappropriate’ by the pharmacy regulator.
Tohidul Islam, founder of the networking platform The Pharmacist Cooperative, has reported a significant increase in companies wanting pharmacists ‘to just sign off on questionnaires’ in online weight loss clinics. Just in the last few weeks, Mr. Islam noted being approached by as many as five companies, compared to only one or two in the previous year.
He expressed concern that pharmacists responding to such adverts could be held responsible for unsafe practices. ‘I think it’s getting to the point where people are just cutting corners and expecting pharmacists to take the blame [and] to take responsibility for it,’ he remarked. Furthermore, he observed a rise in advertisements offering discounts on weight loss injectables around Black Friday and the pre-Christmas season, particularly targeting young women.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) stated, ‘People need a prescription to get medicines used for weight management legally. To get a prescription, it is necessary to have a consultation with a prescriber who will decide, based on the information provided, whether or not to issue a prescription.’
The GPhC also warned against using unregulated and illegally operating sites to obtain weight management medicines, emphasizing the dangers of counterfeit medications and their potential harm to health. They encouraged users to verify the legitimacy of online services and the registration of healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) director for England Dr. James Davies expressed concerns about pharmacists facing pressure to process clinical transactions quickly, stressing that patient care should remain the priority over commercial interests. He highlighted the importance of prescribers being fully aware of their obligations and the potential risks involved, urging adherence to GPhC guidance and offering tools and support to ensure safe practices.
In light of this discussion, prescribers and healthcare professionals are reminded to report any advertisements for prescription-only medications seen on social media to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as the rise in interest in weight loss services underscores the need for proper regulatory practices in prescribing.
Recent reports indicate that fake online pharmacies are targeting vulnerable patients, including those seeking obesity drugs, ADHD medications, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The MHRA identified the involvement of organized criminal gangs in these fraudulent activities, whereas the GPhC cautioned that there’s no way to ascertain the safety and legitimacy of drugs acquired through unregulated websites.
Source: The Pharmacist
