The Health Foundation has undertaken an analysis of patients who are accessing weight-loss treatments privately.
Many CCA members already provide weight-loss services through community pharmacy and registered online pharmacy settings. In response, our Chief Executive, Malcolm Harrison highlighted the important role pharmacies can play in broadening access to GLP-1 medicines through an NHS-commissioned service:
“Millions of people are already accessing GLP-1s safely from both traditional community pharmacies and registered online pharmacies.
Community pharmacies are well placed to deliver a nationally-commissioned wrap-around weight loss service to support people using NHS funded GLP-1s. With more sites in areas of greater deprivation, and established online providers offering universal access, pharmacies are ideally positioned to help less affluent communities who are disproportionately affected by obesity. A targeted NHS-funded service, together with existing private services, would help broaden access to weight-loss treatments.
This would transform the lives of millions, improving users’ health, allowing many to return to work, driving economic growth and productivity.”