Recent reports from the consumer watchdog Which? have indicated that Alli may have been sold to people who do not require the drug.
The investigation carried out into Alli found that “ half of independent pharmacies approved the sale to researchers who did not need it”. Alli has taken the diet industry by storm as it is a watered down version of Orlistat – The prescription only diet drug manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. However, the manufacturers claim that Alli should only be sold to overweight people with a Body Mass Index of 28 or above.
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Alli went on sale in May 2009 and Which then sent its undercover researchers to over 30 outlets including small chains and large retailers such as Boots and Lloyds.
An academic and a pharmacist reviewed the visits and were surprised to learn that on four instances slim researchers were able to buy Alli. One privately-run chemist permitted the sale to a researcher who would need to weigh nearly four stone more to meet the criteria for the drug. On three occasions pharmacists refused sales of the pill even though the shoppers were suitable. But the experts were happy that in all but one case — again an independent chemist — important safety questions about medical history were asked to the mystery shoppers who had a BMI over 28.
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Overall, problems occurred in 50 per cent of independents and 13 per cent of retail chemist chains.
A follow-up study is intended later to see if there has been progress in the training of pharmacists.
Joanna Pearl, a senior researcher who planned the study, said: “We were expecting to see exceptional results because we knew that pharmacies have been given clear direction about the sale of the drug. But there still seems to be issues with independents where half were unsatisfactory.”
David Pruce, director of policy at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, indicated that the research took place at a time when pharmacists were taught but instructions had not been given to staff and locums.
A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline said: “It is the responsibility of the pharmacy to sell the product in line with the terms of the licence. The pharmacy therefore needs to make an assessment of a person’s age and BMI before selling alli.
“GSK strongly believes pharmacists as healthcare professionals in the local community are ideally placed to provide customers with appropriate weight loss advice and have implemented an extensive pharmacy training programme to support their weight loss services.
“GSK is committed to conducting further training with any pharmacies found not to adhere to the terms as governed by the licence.”
There are a number of other diet drugs that work in a similiar way to Alli including the natural alternative Proactol.
