A report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry found that access disparities across Scotland are most pronounced in GLP-1 medications, alongside substantial eight- to ten-fold regional variations for certain cholesterol-lowering drugs. NHS Western Isles linked its elevated numbers to a structured lifestyle programme currently supporting 340 patients with dietetic care. Across Scotland, fewer than half of the 14 territorial health boards actively provide these medications specifically for weight loss. In response, ministers plan administrative reforms intended to reduce these regional imbalances.
Key points
Geographic disparities across Scotland have led to highly unequal patient access to newer…: Geographic disparities across Scotland have led to highly unequal patient access to newer diabetes, weight management, and cardiovascular treatments.
Smaller island populations and unseparated diabetes versus weight loss prescription recor…: Smaller island populations and unseparated diabetes versus weight loss prescription records can heavily skew statistical comparisons between health boards.
The Scottish government plans to implement administrative reforms to reduce unwarranted v…: The Scottish government plans to implement administrative reforms to reduce unwarranted variations in care and ensure more equitable service access.
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- Published
Patients in the Western Isles are being prescribed drugs used for weight loss and diabetes at almost three times the rate of any other health board in Scotland.
A new report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) found "significant variation" between Scotland's health boards prescribing new medicines, including drugs for heart attacks and strokes.
The biggest variation was seen in access to GLP-1 medication, which is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes but was approved for weight management in 2023.
NHS Western Isles said it was seeing "significant clinical benefit".
The ABPI said there were limitations to the data, but better planning could help overcome inequalities in access.
The Scottish government said it would "carefully consider" the findings of the report.
It said its health board reforms were intended to "improve equity of access to services and reduce the unwarranted variation and bureaucratic barriers we currently have in place".
These reforms include plans to reduce the number of mainland health boards from 14 to two, which leading doctors have opposed.
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