GPhC joins forces with other regulators over advertising of weight management medicines

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), together with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has issued a joint Enforcement Notice banning adverts for prescription-only medicines (POMs) used in weight management.

This prohibition covers a range of digital advertising platforms—including social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), influencer marketing activities, and search engine-sponsored adverts—with the ASA employing an AI-based monitoring system to actively detect any breaches.

In addition, GPhC guidance mandates that pharmacy owners and, where applicable, the Superintendent Pharmacist adhere to strict advertising and promotional rules for medicines; non-compliance may result in enforcement actions against the pharmacy, its owner, the Superintendent Pharmacist, or all three, including potential fitness to practise investigations. 

Chief Enforcement Officer Dionne Spence emphasized that this measure is designed to ensure that prescription-only medicines are only provided after a proper consultation where their clinical appropriateness is independently verified, thereby safeguarding public health and maintaining the integrity of pharmacy practice.

Chief Enforcement Officer at the GPhC, Dionne Spence, said:

“Our role is to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect and assure the public. 

“It is vital that people receive prescription-only medicines, such as those used for weight management, only after having an appropriate consultation, and when their prescriber has independently verified that the medicines are clinically appropriate for them.

“Adverts and special price offers should not be used for prescription-only medicines as they are likely to promote the specific POM.

“GPhC inspectors will continue to inspect pharmacies to ensure our standards are being met and will be looking for evidence that our Guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services at a distance, including on the internet is being followed.

“We will be working closely with our regulatory partners to ensure that prompt and proportionate action is taken where necessary to protect the public.”

See the enforcement notice online

See the ASA website for more information

View the presentations from the recent webinar with the MHRA and ASA

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