Asda Pharmacy is introducing a “judgement-free” disposal scheme for unregulated weight loss jabs, it announced today.
The multiple said it is encouraging those who may have purchased an unregulated weight loss medicine to “safely dispose of it in one of its 230 pharmacies and seek professional advice, without judgement”.
Read more: Over half of people worried about counterfeit drugs, survey finds
The “safe disposal and support scheme” is a “judgement-free way for anyone who’s bought something they’re unsure about to dispose of it safely and speak to a pharmacist about safer, regulated options”, it added.
Asda also highlighted new research from UK General Practitioners revealing that more than four in five GPs have “seen an increase in patients being offered unregulated medication” over the past year.
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Many of the GPs surveyed reported patients experiencing “avoidable side effects” including severe vomiting (64%), diarrhoea (58%) and dehydration (56%).
And 45% of GPs expressed worry about “non-clinical sellers” giving people “inappropriate advice” about weight loss treatments, while a quarter said they had “encountered patients who required hospital care following complications”.
“Peace of mind”
Asda Pharmacy head Faisal Tuddy said “lots” of the chain’s customers “are looking for help managing their weight”, and it is “really important they feel confident they’re getting safe, trusted support”.
“If anyone is unsure about something they’ve bought, we’d always encourage them to pop in and have a chat with a pharmacist,” he added.
“Our new service is all about giving customers peace of mind - helping them feel supported, informed and able to make safer choices, without any judgement.”
Read more: Two arrested in MHRA’s ‘largest ever’ illegal weight loss drugs bust
It comes as new research has revealed that 60% of people worry their prescribed medicines “might be counterfeit or substandard”.
And it follows two people being arrested after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s “largest ever” seizure of unlicensed weight loss drugs.
