Pharmacists warn of “unsustainable” demand for weight loss drugs amid supply concerns

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has raised alarms over the rapidly growing demand for weight loss medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, warning that usage in the UK may soon exceed available supply.

The surge in interest could force restrictions on access, reserving the drugs only for those who are severely overweight.

With over 1.6 million packs of these drugs purchased in April alone, demand has soared - primarily through private channels, as the majority of users pay out of pocket.

New data also suggests that more than one in five Britons have attempted to obtain weight loss medication over the past year. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, that number climbs to 35%.

“Spiralling demand for weight loss medication risks going far beyond what is clinically deliverable,” the NPA said, adding that increasing pressure on supplies could push some individuals toward risky, unregulated online sources.

The NPA also emphasised the need to prioritise patients who are medically in need of the drugs, rather than catering to the “worried well,” reported The Guardian.

According to a recent Savanta poll of over 2,000 UK adults, 41% said they would take weight loss drugs if available for free through the NHS. That figure rose to 64% among those aged 25 to 34.

Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, commented: “Weight loss jabs are one of the biggest drug innovations this century, but growing demand for weight loss treatment highlights the need to make sure this is appropriate for those who want it. It’s clear from this polling that more people are interested in getting weight loss jabs than can benefit from weight loss medication.”

Supply shortages have already affected some parts of the UK, particularly for higher doses of Mounjaro. Some pharmacies have had to limit new patient access due to constrained inventory.

The UK’s drug regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has issued a strong advisory for patients to avoid purchasing these medications from unauthorised sources such as websites or beauty salons, and to only use them with a doctor’s prescription.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the government plans to expand access to “revolutionary” weight loss treatments in the coming years. “Weight loss drugs are a powerful tool in tackling the obesity crisis head-on as part of our 10-year health plan,” the spokesperson said. “We will ensure that those most in need will receive treatment first.”

As part of the initiative, around 220,000 people in England are expected to receive tirzepatide - an anti-diabetes drug with weight loss benefits - over the next three years.

Picard stressed that pharmacies, which already handle 85% of weight loss medication distribution, should play a central role in scaling up NHS efforts. “The government should use the massive untapped expertise and skills of pharmacists to help speed up the NHS’s weight loss medication programme to millions of the most in need patients,” he said.