Obesity report prompts calls for greater pharmacy involvement
Weight management services offered through community pharmacies could provide solutions to the growing problem of obesity highlighted in a recent parliamentary
report, according to the All Party Pharmacy Group.
In response to the Health Select Committee’s report into obesity
published last week, Howard Stoate, chairman of the APPG, said: “There
are no health professionals better placed than community pharmacists
to highlight the issues associated with obesity and to help people avoid
or manage this major public health problem.”
The APPG made a number of recommendations to health ministers about tackling
obesity earlier this year. The recommendations, published in a report
entitled “Community pharmacy — tackling obesity”, include
a defined public health role for
pharmacists.
Dr Stoate commented: “We need to ensure that all the resources
available in the NHS are fully used in the fight against obesity.” He
added that the forthcoming national contract for community pharmacy would
provide a perfect opportunity to define the public health role of pharmacists.
Omar Ali, formulary pharmacist at Surrey & Sussex NHS Trust and executive
board member of the National Obesity Forum (an independent medical organisation
open to all health professionals), told The Journal that there was exciting
work already being done in pharmacies in terms of prevention and treatment
of obesity. However, he pointed out that some hurdles still exist. These
include problems around the availability and funding of anti-obesity
agents recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence
and the willingness of primary care trusts to provide financial support
for pharmacies to run weight management clinics. |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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