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Statement For immediate release 28 April 2009
PHARMACISTS SHOULD BE ON HIGH ALERT WHEN SELLING ORLISTAT, SAYS SOCIETY The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is reiterating to pharmacists the need to adhere to its practice guidance regarding the sale of orlistat, a drug which can only be sold to patients who have undergone a consultation, and who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28 or higher. The emphasis on the Society’s practice guidance follows two Sunday newspapers reporting cases of pharmacies not complying with regulations around the sale of the drug.
Orlistat, known commercially as alli, went on sale as a pharmacy medicine on Wednesday April 22.
The Society’s Director of Policy, David Pruce said: “Both the Society and GSK, which manufactures orlistat, developed and disseminated guidance and training resources for pharmacists in anticipation of the medicine’s launch. It is disappointing that some pharmacies have not followed the guidance. It is important to emphasise the need to closely follow the requirements for selling orlistat.”
Both the 26 April editions of the Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Star Sunday conducted ‘mystery shopper’ exercises, where women of healthy weight went to a number of pharmacies to procure orlistat. While some pharmacies conducted consultations and declined to supply the mystery shoppers with orlistat, others failed to follow the correct procedure before selling the drug. The mystery shopper for the Daily Star Sunday told several pharmacists she was buying orlistat for her overweight mother.
David Pruce said: “Not only is it crucial pharmacists carry out a thorough consultation before deciding whether or not to sell orlistat, they must also be aware some patients may lie in order to obtain the drug.
“Pharmacists need to be alert for vulnerable people with eating disorder or body-image issues who may try to obtain orlistat for the wrong purposes.”
The Society’s practice guidance on orlistat can be found at: http://www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/otcorlistatguid.pdf.
Ends For media enquiries please contact the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Public Relations Unit 020 7572 2336
Notes to editors
Orlistat • Obesity is a major health concern in the UK, accounting for 30,000 deaths each year • Orlistat, known commercially as alli, is available over the counter in a 60mg formulation – half the strength of that prescribed by doctors • Pharmacists should check the Body Mass Index (BMI) of individuals requesting orlistat on each occasion they make a request. Adults with a BMI of 28kg/m2 or more may be suitable for the treatment.