Doctors in Oakham say it can be dangerous to use weight loss injections if they're not needed

Doctors in Oakham are concerned that more restrictions on weight loss injections could lead to people using counterfeit products.

People wanting to buy the jabs online will face stricter checks.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has told online pharmacies they can no longer prescribe the drugs after reading a patient questionnaire, and must instead conduct a two-way consultation with the patient.

The move, which is intended to make sure jabs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro are prescribed safely, will include verifying the person's body mass index (BMI) via a video consultation, in person, or through accessing GP or medical records.

It will no longer be enough to prescribe the drugs following an email chat, from questionnaires or by people sending in photos of themselves.

The GPhC, which regulates pharmacies, said it was responding to concerns relating to the unsafe prescribing and supply of medicines online, including weight loss jabs.

It's really important the right people use the medications

Dr Adam Crowther, chair of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Medical Committee, said:

"For people using it who don't need it, it might cause a salt and electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to a ketoacidotic state."

"The College of Physicians were really worried about the number of people being admitted with significant complications."

"It's really important the right people use the medications as opposed to being able to just access them."

"If you don't fit the criteria, does that mean you're more likely to try and access the medication or what you think is the medication in other ways?"

"Hopefully not; hopefully people will be sensible. I wouldn't want to see anyone come to harm as a consequence of using a counterfeit medicine."

"I'd always recommend that people obtain their medicines from a reputable source."

Doctors are really worried about the number of people being admitted with significant complications

Weight-loss drugs have also now been added to the list of "high-risk" medicines requiring extra safeguards.

Any decision not to carry out a two-way consultation with the patient must be recorded and the clinician must justify their reasons.

The patient can also be directed to another care provider to be "properly assessed".

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