The demand for weight loss drugs becomes so “unbearable” that demand could soon exceed supply, have warned pharmacists.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said that supply problems could encourage people to turn to unregulated online sources, despite the risks involved.
The number of people in the United Kingdom using drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro has climbed well over a million, most patients paying them in private.
In April, packs of 1.6 million Mounjaro and Wegovy were bought in Great Britain, the number considered as in correlation closely with the number of people who use them.
“The spiral demand for weight loss drug risk goes far beyond what is clinically deliverable,” said the NPA.
Medicines may have to be reserved for those who need it most, because they are so overweight instead of being given to “worried good”, he added.
New surveys have revealed that 21% of British tried to get me medicines in the past year, a figure that increases to 35% among 18 to 34 year olds.
The same survey revealed that 41% of all age groups would use them if they were free on the NHS. This figure increased to 64% among the 25 to 34 year olds.
Savanta interviewed a representative sample of 2,002 adults aged 18 or over online from June 20 to 23 for the NPA, which represents 6,000 independent pharmacies.
“Weight loss jab is one of the biggest drug innovations this century, but growing demand for weight loss treatment highlights the need to ensure that this is suitable for those who wish,” said Olivier Picard, the NPA chair.
“It clearly emerges from this survey according to which more people are interested in obtaining weight loss that cannot benefit from weight loss medicines.”
The supply of drugs was affected by shortages in certain parts of the United Kingdom, especially for higher doses of Mounjaro, said the NPA. The supply was limited to certain pharmacies, which prevented new patients from moving on to medication.
The regulation agency for medicines and health products, the UK’s medication watchdog, warned patients to obtain medicines only with a prescription from the doctor and not of beauty salons or websites.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health said that more people could get “revolutionary” weight loss in the coming years.
“Weight loss drugs are a powerful tool to combat the front obesity crisis as part of our 10-year health plan,” they added.
“This government is committed to ensuring that more people have access to these revolutionary drugs if necessary, and especially that they are able to do so in a safe and controlled manner. We will make sure that the most in need will first receive treatment. ”
About 220,000 people in England should be offered shooting, a drug against diabetes that promotes weight loss over the next three years.
Pharmacies already provide around 85% of all weight loss drugs and should be closely involved in the expansion of access, added Picard.
“The government is expected to use massive pharmacist expertise and unexploited skills to help accelerate the NHS weight loss medication program to the most necessary millions of patients,” he said.
