NHS Plans Pilot for Weight Loss Injections at Pharmacies

The NHS is planning to expand access to prescription weight-loss injections, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, by allowing community pharmacies to administer them after a brief consultation. This initiative aims to make the treatments available at the standard NHS prescription charge, significantly lowering costs compared to private providers, and potentially benefiting up to 3.4 million people in England. Currently, only patients referred to specialist clinics can access these drugs, leading to long waiting lists. Pharmacy leaders and experts point out that pharmacists are well-positioned to safely deliver these injections, especially in underserved and deprived areas, but emphasize that the medication should be provided as part of a comprehensive, supervised care plan due to possible side effects and the need for lifestyle changes. While pharmacy organizations are open to collaborating with the government on this rollout, they caution that adequate funding and consideration of pharmacy capacity are crucial for success. A pilot scheme is already underway, with its outcomes expected to guide future national implementation.