Digital health company MedPal AI is using artificial intelligence (AI) to “identify” users “who may benefit” from weight loss treatments, it revealed yesterday (January 8).
The company announced the launch of “direct AI integration” between its consumer health app MedPal and its online pharmacy MedPal Clinic, and said it believes the move is “a UK-first”.
The app’s AI “now analyses aggregated user health data” such as body mass index (BMI) “to identify individuals who may benefit from clinically supervised weight management and GLP-1 treatments” or other products available from the MedPal pharmacy, it added.
Read more: AI firm takes over DSP contract from pharmacy ‘in administration’
MedPal AI said the “key indicators” identified by its AI include “slow or blocked metabolism, weight loss goals and hunger control concerns”.
It added that the system “only suggests GLP-1 assessment pathways to users whose BMI qualifies them for clinical evaluation” to ensure “responsible, targeted healthcare rather than blanket advertising”.
And it said it plans to expand this “intelligent targeting” to include all the medicines that can be prescribed and dispensed at its pharmacy, including “the full range of men’s and women’s health medications that an independent prescriber can prescribe” under UK regulations.
The future?
MedPal AI chief executive Jason Drummond said that “no other pharmacy has this depth of AI integration with a health app”.
“Our system doesn’t just advertise health supplements and weight loss treatments; it understands each user’s health profile and only connects those who clinically qualify with our GLP-1 prescribing services,” he added.
“This is the future of personalised healthcare, and MedPal is leading it.”
Read more: Wegovy pill: First oral GLP-1 weight loss drug launches in US
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) said “pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies must make sure they are meeting” the regulator’s standards “at all times”.
“Our standards and supporting guidance are expected to be met in all circumstances, including where AI tools or other technology is being used to support service delivery,” it added.
Read more: GPhC act after online pharmacies accept AI images for GLP-1s
It comes after MedPal AI announced in November that it had taken over ownership of an NHS distance selling pharmacy (DSP) contract after its previous owner went into administration.
And it follows an ITV News report revealing that patients with “healthy BMIs” are using AI to fake their weight and access weight loss injections.
By using “basic editing software” to “widen their waist, face and body”, the journalist was “approved” by three different companies and had three separate weight loss injection prescriptions sent to them “within a week”, the report said.
