NHS Western Isles prescribing weight loss drugs at triple the rate of other health boards
A new report finds "significant variation" between Scotland's health boards prescribing new medicines.
Patients in the Western Isles region of Scotland are being prescribed weight loss and diabetes drugs at nearly three times the rate of any other health board in Scotland, according to a new report by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). The report found significant variation in prescribing new medicines across Scotland's health boards, including drugs for heart attacks and strokes.
The largest disparity was seen in access to GLP-1 medications, which are used for treating type 2 diabetes but were also approved for weight management in 2023. The NHS Western Isles reported seeing significant clinical benefit from the drugs. The ABPI acknowledged limitations to the data but suggested better planning could help overcome inequalities in access.
The Scottish government stated it would carefully consider the findings and noted that its health board reforms aimed to improve equity of access to services and reduce unwarranted variation and bureaucratic barriers.
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