UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour plans to allow pharmacists to prescribe Ozempic on the NHS, part of a wider strategy to curb obesity and ease pressure on GP services.
As reported by The Telegraph, under new health plans, pharmacists could gain NHS prescribing rights for Ozempic to help tackle obesity across the UK.
What did Wes Streeting say about pharmacists’ new NHS role?
Health Secretary Wes Streeting plans to expand prescribing rights for the jab to more healthcare professionals, not just limit them to GPs.
He said,
“I’m determined to get the care you need as close as possible to your home and, as pillars of our communities, pharmacies will play a vital role.”
Mr Streeting added,
“The nation’s high streets will join the front line of NHS care, as pharmacists get far more power to prescribe and manage a range of health conditions. Our Plan for Change will give patients greater choice and access to the right care, so your healthcare fits around your life, not the other way round.”
What did Labour’s 10-year health plan mean for pharmacies?
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will reveal a 10-year health strategy on Thursday as part of Labour’s wider healthcare reforms.
The new health plan focuses on boosting the role of pharmacies, making them central to the NHS response to minor health issues. The proposals will give pharmacies expanded powers to assist patients dealing with obesity, asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Pharmacists will also be used to support obesity patients through nutrition counselling and healthy lifestyle guidance under the new proposal.
As part of new anti-obesity measures, takeaways and shops may face fines if they fail to offer healthier food options.
How could 250,000 obese patients benefit from the NHS dug plan?
Health officials confirmed they are exploring the option of granting high street pharmacists the power to prescribe Ozempic directly from the counter. Currently, Ozempic and its related medications are only available on the NHS through prescriptions from GPs.
The NHS announced this month it will offer Mounjaro, a weight-loss drug, free of charge to patients with severe obesity. Around 250,000 patients with a BMI of 40 or more and multiple health issues, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, will qualify.
How are Britons accessing Ozempic online at a high cost?
Ozempic is also available privately from licensed online pharmacies in the UK, but it costs more than £200 per month.
It was created for diabetes care, but Ozempic has quickly become a trend among celebrities and politicians. Some users have warned about side effects, including nausea and vomiting.
The NHS spends approximately £11 billion each year treating obesity, and the cost is increasing. Wes Streeting has warned that this growing burden could affect the health system, with childhood obesity rates now twice as high as in the 1990s.
What did the NPA reveal about avoidable A&E visits?
According to a report from the National Pharmacy Association, up to six million hours of emergency department time could be saved annually. The report said 325,000 people turned up at hospitals for colds or sore throats, 18,000 for insect bites, and 196,000 for urinary infections.
The NPA estimated that £215 million is wasted each year by handling cases in A&E that pharmacies could manage instead.
What did Colette Marshall say on tackling type 2 diabetes?
Colette Marshall, the chief executive at Diabetes UK, stated,
“The introduction of mandatory reporting and targets on healthy food sales is crucial to improving transparency within the food industry and ensuring businesses can be held to account.”
She added,
“Public health policies like this and the junk food marketing ban have the power to shift the dial from sickness to prevention. The government must build on these commitments in order to stem the alarming rise in type 2 diabetes and its life-altering complications.”