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A report published today by the London Assembly Health Committee warns a lack of weight loss medicines on the NHS is forcing the “vast majority” of people in the capital to access them on social media, in beauty salons, gyms and even pubs and fish and chip shops. exposing them to unlicensed, counterfeit treatments.

The report called on Labour to work with the General Pharmaceutical Council, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and other agencies to put in place more stringent regulation to halt the supply of medicines through illicit markets.

Regulation and enforcement to stop the supply of illegal and counterfeit weight-loss drugs, the report added, can be strengthened by a “cross-agency taskforce” which should be launched in 2026-27.

To safely widen access to the medicines, the Committee recommended the NHS “accelerate” its rollout and challenged NHS England to update it annually on how much progress has been made towards hitting its target of 35,000 to 40,000 Londoners accessing the medicines by 2028.

Just 3,000 people living in London were accessing weight loss medicines on the NHS as of November 2025.

“This is a fraction of those who are ultimately eligible for the medication, and a drop in the ocean compared to the number of people who are already buying it privately,” the report said.

It called on London’s integrated care boards (ICBs) to work together to establish a London-wide clinical pathway for weight loss medicines by the end of 2026-27.

“Whilst recognising there will be some variation to take account of local needs, there should be a safe and consistent pathway regardless of where a patient lives in London,” it said.

The report also expressed concern that people accessing weight loss drugs privately “carries significant risks”, although it stressed private provision of weight loss drugs in community pharmacies and by online providers has its “benefits”.

Artificial intelligence manipulation of images

The authors of the report heard evidence about risks of online provision, including “artificial intelligence manipulation of images and a lack of available information when screening patients, which can lead to people acquiring medicines for whom they are not appropriate”.

Cautioning that supply needed to be safe and effective, it insisted “robust safeguards” coupled with “comprehensive wraparound care to support patients” must be in place to ensure only people who are “strictly eligible” can purchase the drugs.

“The NHS in London should develop a London-wide offer for wraparound care,” the Committee said. “This should be adaptable to the needs of individuals and involve both in-person and online options.

“This should be done after the NHS has carried out its initial review of wraparound care models across London’s ICBs. We believe this offer could be in place by 2028 and ask that NHS England (London region) advise the Committee of progress in its annual updates on rollout.”

The Committee urged the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS to review existing evidence on the relationships between weight loss medicines and eating disorders and carry out or commission new research “to fill any identified evidence gaps”. The Committee challenged the DHSC and NHS to set out what steps it will take by the end of July.

The report’s final recommendation was for the NHS to consult with patients and ensure their “voices are taken into account”.

The Committee insisted “significant collaboration across regulators and agencies, as well as regular monitoring of illegal channels, advertising and social media” was required to ensure the supply of weight loss drugs is safe.

The report was underpinned by evidence from pharmacists, clinicians, regulators and the public, who “shared their lived experiences”.

“Their evidence has been invaluable in helping the Committee understand both the opportunities and the risks associated with these medicines,” the report concluded.

Commission an NHS weight management service in community pharmacy

Company Chemists’ Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said the report provided “further evidence of the value of weight loss medicines for eligible patients”.

Calling on the Government to commission an NHS weight management service through community pharmacy, he said: “Community pharmacies already play an important role in providing weight loss treatments safely and effectively, both in-person and online, supported by established clinical pathways and strong patient safeguards.

“Expanding access in this way would not only help more patients receive support but would also help millions access it faster.  Obesity is a national problem and needs national support, delivered at scale.

“This is where pharmacy excels. Pharmacy-enabled support would ensure the best outcomes for patients and reduce the burden of obesity on the NHS and the wider economy.”