National Pharmacy Association Insurance (NPAI) last week (May 13) warned contractors that “asynchronous prescribing” for weight loss drugs has led to claims raised against pharmacies.
Speaking at the annual Sigma conference, NPAI managing director Lisa Banks told delegates that “the claims profile is changing”.
“Areas such as asynchronous prescribing for weight loss have led to claims,” she revealed.
Read more: Revealed: NHS weight loss and quit vaping services on the cards
These claims included “one where a patient had to have a gallbladder removed,” she said.
It remains unclear what kind of claim was raised in this instance, and whether the concerns were also brought to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
“Crucial evidence”
Banks revealed that the NPAI has also seen other kinds of claims increase “in recent years”.
“We’ve seen cases where patients have managed to obtain large quantities of drugs online that can be subject to abuse such as propranolol,” she said.
“Red flags – including patients refusing to consent for the pharmacy to contact their GP – have been missed,” she added.
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And “failure to make contemporaneous notes is a growing area of concern” for the insurer, she said.
“Not only is it good practice to record the treatment and advice provided [but] the records become crucial evidence when defending our policyholders in the event of a claim,” she stressed.
NPAI subsidiary Peach Pi announced the launch of a scheme to insure GP surgeries “and other healthcare professionals” in July.
Weight loss latest
C+D this month revealed that Oushk Pharmacy’s funds boomed almost 600% in just six months thanks to the thousands of weight loss scripts it processes every month.
The news came as reports claimed that a multimillion-pound deal “with a major pharmaceutical firm” is set to fund a national NHS weight loss jab prescription pilot in pharmacies.
“Once the deal is signed, it will be possible to walk into a pharmacy and, after a short assessment, leave with a supply of jabs for £9.90” – the current cost of an NHS prescription – the Mail Online reported.
Read more: Inside the online pharmacy growing weight loss scripts by the thousands
Meanwhile in February, the GPhC announced new rules stating that online pharmacies “cannot” prescribe based on online questionnaires alone and must “independently verify” patients’ weight and height before prescribing weight loss drugs.
A month on, C+D revealed that the regulator had already received almost 50 concerns relating to weight management.
In June, C+D exclusively reported that a “young girl” was rushed to A&E for urgent treatment after presenting with life threatening symptoms after taking weight loss drug Wegovy that she had obtained through Boots Online Doctor.
