Fewer than 800 patients in Scotland have received NHS weight loss injections since their approval three years ago. Currently, only five of the 14 health boards offer the treatment, primarily through small pilot programs, leading to concerns about health inequalities. While private prescriptions for these medications have surged, many health boards are not routinely prescribing them for weight loss.
The Scottish government emphasizes that these drugs are part of a broader obesity treatment strategy, but critics argue that the limited access exacerbates health disparities. With a significant portion of the population classified as obese, the situation raises questions about the effectiveness of current health policies.