Written question WQ91978
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What steps has the Welsh Government taken to ensure weight-loss injections used in Wales are safe?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
The licensing and regulation of medicines in the UK is a reserved matter and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This includes assessing and ensuring the ongoing safety and effectiveness of all medicinal products.
Licensed weight-loss injections are safe when used in accordance with a prescription from and under the care of, a suitably competent clinician. In accordance with recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) treatment should be provided by health boards’ specialist weight management services.
I am aware some people may access weight-loss injections outside the NHS including from online services. Where people choose to access treatment privately then they should ensure this is from a reputable service and ideally one registered with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. Where people obtain medicines online they should do so only from pharmacies participating in the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC’s) internet pharmacy logo scheme. The scheme provides reassurance to patients and the public that they are purchasing medicines online from registered pharmacies which meet GPhC standards.