Karmactive Staff
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is changing how people can get weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro from online pharmacies. These modifications were made after it was discovered that certain individuals were obtaining these medications too easily.
These changes mean that online pharmacies must now check a person’s weight and height in person or through video calls, they can no longer merely use images or online forms. The head of the pharmacy watchdog group, Duncan Rudkin, claims that they discovered “too many cases of medicines being supplied inappropriately online and putting people at risk.”
The new regulations require pharmacists to communicate directly with patients and their primary care physicians.They need to know a patient’s full medical history before giving out these medications. If pharmacies don’t follow these rules, they could lose their license or face other penalties.
Online pharmacies told Reuters they estimate as many as 500,000 people in the UK are taking these drugs through private channels, with reports indicating significant usage through the private market. This stands in stark contrast to the more regulated NHS distribution. The market is now experiencing shortages and counterfeit goods as a result of this increased demand.
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Dr. Piotr Ozieranski from the University of Bath points out some problems with these new rules. He worries about how pharmacies will quickly check someone’s weight through video calls.Additionally, he claims that the regulations don’t cover how pharmaceutical corporations could sway pharmacies by paying them.
Studies show these medications help reduce heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure, while helping with weight loss. However, the World Health Organization says these drugs should be used along with other health interventions to tackle obesity.
Since 2021, officials have taken action against twelve online pharmacies for wrongly selling these drugs. who represents pharmacists nationally, supports the stricter rules. According to Nick Kaye, some individuals were receiving these potent medications “without proper consultation or examination of medical records.
The changes aim to make sure these medications help the right people while keeping everyone safe. However, putting these regulations into practice may prove difficult, particularly given the high demand for these medications and the already hectic schedules of physicians.
