PDA discusses online supply of GLP-1 RA weight loss products on BBC Radio's Woman’s Hour

PDA's spokesperson, Head of Policy Alima Batchelor, highlights the complexities and risks associated with online prescribing for weight loss 

"Our main concerns are that the use of what they call an asynchronous supply, where the prescriber neither sees nor talks to the patient at the time they issue the prescription, does lay itself open to perhaps people getting hold of medication that they shouldn't," the Head of Policy, PDA said.

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) engages in a critical conversation on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, shedding light on the online prescribing of weight loss drugs and advocating for safer practices.

The PDA's spokesperson, Head of Policy Alima Batchelor, emphasised the importance of adhering to professional guidelines to ensure patient safety and mitigate regulatory concerns.

During the feature, the PDA highlighted the complexities and risks associated with online supply chains, stressing the necessity for direct clinical consultations and pharmacist involvement in medication management.

""There are guidelines and advice about verification within the DiCE guidance, but it doesn't go quite far enough for us. We are concerned when patients decline to allow the online prescriber to advise their GP of what they're taking," Batchelor highlighted.

"We feel that's very unsafe because you don't therefore necessarily know their previous drug history, and the GP doesn't know then that the patient is being prescribed", she continued.

In response to the Best Practice Guideline for Online Prescribing of Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists for Weight Management in Adults, the PDA underscored the need for adherence to General Pharmaceutical Council guidance to uphold professional standards and optimise patient care.

Batchelor highlighted concerns regarding patients accessing medications online without proper assessment or consultation, leading to potential risks such as the black market sale of prescription drugs.

The PDA proposed key elements for a safer approach, including direct clinical conversations between prescribers and patients, restricted use of online questionnaires, and encouraging patients to collect medications from local pharmacies for expert advice and support.

Professor James Kingsland OBE, Chair of DiCE, acknowledged the challenges in controlling online supply chains and suggested that artificial intelligence could play a role in preventing fraud.

The discussion underscored the importance of regulatory oversight and collaborative efforts between healthcare professionals to ensure the safe and responsible supply of weight loss medications online.