An ITV investigation has revealed that young people with healthy BMIs are using AI and photo-editing software to access weight-loss drugs.
The investigation followed reports that some online pharmacies were approving edited images, a claim that an ITV reporter tested and found to be accurate. After using basic photo-editing software to widen the ITV reporter’s face, waist and body within a week, three different companies had approved the reporter for weight-loss drugs. Three separate prescriptions were subsequently sent out, one being Tirzepatide.
ITV found that this was not an isolated incident, with three additional women accepted in the same way, sometimes using only a single edited image.
Under the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) guidelines, the prescriber must independently verify the person’s weight, height and/or body mass index, to support safer decision making. The guidance also states that there must be two-way communication between the person and the prescriber for all online prescribing.
The GPhC has confirmed that all three pharmacies have been inspected. Two were found not to meet the GPhC’s standards while one remains under investigation.
Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at GPhC, commented,“To protect the public, we are taking action so they make improvements to meet our standards. Our guidance is clear that when prescribing medicines used for weight management, the information provided by the person, including their weight, height and/or body mass index, must be checked. We routinely inspect hundreds of pharmacies each month and have contact with many more in response to concerns that we receive. When we find a pharmacy is not meeting our standards, we take appropriate action against the pharmacy and also consider taking action against the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians involved.”
In an interview with Good Morning Britain, health secretary Wes Streeting commented, “In relation to weight-loss medication, we are looking very closely and making sure that the prescribing environment there is safe. I’ve seen similar anecdotal stories of people trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the provider, or indeed providers who are not being as scrupulous as other providers in terms of providing access to medication.”