Pharmacy leaders have issued a fresh warning over the online sale of weight loss jabs, saying there is still a risk to patient safety.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has written to regulators calling for tougher rules, following reports that some online sellers have set targets for clinicians to process more than 20 patients every hour.

The NPA said it was also aware of people being wrongly prescribed the drugs who have previously had eating disorders, or whose body weight is already low.

The body, which represents independent community pharmacies, said a two-way consultation with the patient lasting at least 20 to 30 minutes is always needed rather than relying on online questionnaires to access these drugs.

A person’s medical history should also be examined before sellers decide whether or not to dispense a weight loss injection, and regular reviews must take place, it added.

Nick Kaye, chairman of the NPA, told the PA news agency: “It is important that consultations with patients are thorough, allowing a clinician to gain a full picture of someone’s suitability for weight loss injections as well as ensuring the patient fully understands the nature of the treatment and any potential side-effects it may cause.

“It is also important to ensure that clinical decisions regarding weight loss injections are not influenced by financial targets or incentives.”

The NPA has written to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) saying current rules leave the door open for medicines to be supplied without appropriate checks “and the risk to patient safety remains”.

It said the regulator must require pharmacies to conduct a full two-way consultation, including gathering important medical information, for example through GP records.

The consultation between prescriber and patient could be via a face-to-face conversation or on the telephone, it suggested.

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also warned patients not to purchase medicines from unregulated suppliers such as beauty salons and via social media.

Mr Kaye said: “Obesity is one of the biggest challenges facing our country and pharmacies want to play their part in helping patients lose and maintain a healthy weight.

“Weight loss injections can play an important role in efforts to tackle obesity when prescribed as part of a carefully managed treatment programme for patients who are most in need of support.

“However, we are concerned that the current regulations allow some patients to inappropriately access weight loss injections without proper consultation or examination of historical medical records.

“There’s nothing wrong with online services in principle, but it’s important the regulator takes this opportunity to make compulsory a full consultation before dispensing high risk medication such as weight loss injections and ensure supply is prioritised for those in most clinical need, including those with type two diabetes.

“Medicines are not like ordinary goods for sale, they must be handled with great care because they have the power to harm as well as to heal.

“We urge anyone who is unsure about medicine to speak to their pharmacist for advice.”