Home / Health / NHS Obesity Drugs: Black Market Deaths Spark Urgent Probe
NHS Obesity Drugs: Black Market Deaths Spark Urgent Probe
3 Jun
Summary
- Restricted NHS access to weight loss drugs may fuel unregulated market use.
- MPs urged investigation into deaths linked to black market obesity jabs.
- A health minister acknowledged cost pressures drive patients to seek drugs elsewhere.
Health officials face urgent calls to investigate deaths associated with black market obesity jabs, as restricted access on the NHS is acknowledged as a potential driver for individuals seeking unregulated alternatives. Conservative MP Gregory Stafford highlighted concerns that current NHS constraints could pose a patient safety risk by pushing individuals toward unsafe sources.
Public health minister Sharon Hodgson conceded that cost pressures are a factor, acknowledging that these barriers may drive people to seek drugs elsewhere. She stressed the importance of using registered pharmacies. Professor Aidan Fowler of NHS England noted ongoing discussions with the MHRA regarding medicine safety risks, including black market issues.
Committee chairwoman Layla Moran shared a harrowing account of families whose loved ones died after using black market injections, developing sepsis. She expressed concern that the MHRA may not be adequately addressing the risks, urging the minister to consider the tragic outcomes. Minister Hodgson affirmed the need for a faster rollout of obesity drugs, stating that current numbers are insufficient and a new patient record system will help identify eligible individuals.
