Exclusive: Meet the mum who puts her 11-year-old daughter on weight-loss jabs
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Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Building a world-class digital healthcare business
Going global while providing personalised clinical care is possible, writes Addy Mohammed Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Across global media in 2025, we continue to read about how healthcare systems are struggling worldwide – with commonplace issues ranging from high costs and insufficient staff to long waiting lists. And, as we operate in the UK, Germany, Denmark, and Germany, we're seeing these challenges firsthand out on the coalface. I co-founded Simple Online alongside my university friend Karim Nassar in 2015, building on our experience of owning and operating community pharmacies across Scotland to offer a convenient patient-first pharmacy service with medications delivered direct to the door. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We now utilise technology to give patients quick and discrete access to the care they need, at a much lower cost than traditional healthcare models. Combining technology with a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals, we can provide that level of personalised clinical care you might expect from a local community pharmacy. Digital pharmacies are growing massively Our vision is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, supporting our patients with personalised tools and the knowledge to make long-term lifestyle changes. So, for example, we were one of the first providers of weight loss medications in the UK, investing significantly in a weight management programme that combines GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro alongside holistic weight management support from a wide team of specialist healthcare professionals. To say we are in a fast-moving market would be an understatement when you consider that the global online pharmacy market is valued at almost £100 billion, and forecast to grow to around £400bn by 2033. Digital healthcare is evolving rapidly – ten years ago digital clinics were only in their infancy, so we're committed to investing in technology that enhances the patient journey so we can always deliver best-in-class care. In April we marked our tenth anniversary with record monthly revenue, but the last thing we're going to do is rest on our laurels. Scaling a technology company is no easy shift, particularly when you are investing across geographies, supply chains, technology and talent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This year we will be strengthening our leadership team as we enter our next phase of growth. And we remain thankful to have non-executive Directors of Shane Corstorphine and Jules Pancholi's calibre to lean on as we plot further growth and international expansion. The global online pharmacy market is valued at almost £100 billion, writes Addy Mohammed (Picture: Stewart Attwood) Reflecting on how far we've come over the last ten years, one thing that stands out is that we've managed to get to this point while being self-funded, something of an oxymoron for a fast-growing technology company in 2025. While VCs have knocked on the door over the years, we've resisted the venture capital route to date. We are bootstrapped and still learning every day. And having non-execs in our corner has been more valuable than any funding we could have sought. We always want to keep learning and growing, while building a world-class digital healthcare business from a base in Scotland.
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs
Some of the drugs have recently become available on the NHS but the majority who use them purchase them from online pharmacies and in private because it is not regularly prescribed by the NHS. Many doctors in Scotland are unable to prescribe them due to the cost with the two main drugs being semaglutide under the brand name WeGovy and tirzepatide under the brand name Mounjaro. This has led to a black market for the drug and a letter was sent to healthcare professionals to tell them to be cautious of potential illicit drugs and to report anything they may find to Police Scotland. The force is not running an official investigation at this stage, but it is asking for any information that may help them in the future if the problem continues to grow. In the letter, seen by The Herald and sent by the [[Scottish Government]]'s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Professor Alison Strath, reveals that a number of NHS weight management programmes have attendees who have told them they are using the drugs without a prescription. This has caused concern for medical professionals and the Government and the letter is encouraging staff to report the illicit supply anonymously. It is estimated almost 1.5 million people across the UK are using the GLP-1 injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy. Figures also show that 80% of those are buying from online retailers and the fear is that many are paying out cash regularly but not receiving the correct medicine. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We work closely with a range of partners including Public Health Scotland, the Scottish Government, alcohol and drug partnerships and drug support services to identify current or emerging trends caused by substance use, including the use of unlicenced or unprescribed medications 'We would urge the public to be aware of the risks of misusing any medication and report any concerns about criminality to us so they can be fully investigated.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Anyone seeking to use weight loss medication should only do so, under medical supervision, and where medicines are prescribed by a registered healthcare professional. The supply of medicines without a prescription is illegal. 'The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer wrote to healthcare professionals on 17 July with updated guidance on how to report the known or suspected illicit supply of obesity medicines after feedback from healthcare professionals working in NHS weight management programmes about people privately sourcing supplies of obesity medicines without a prescription. 'Any healthcare professional with concerns over this should contact their health board's Fraud Liaison Officer (FLO). They can also report it anonymously to Police Scotland via Crimestoppers or by asking the FLO to complete a NHS Counter Fraud Services form on their behalf.' The drugs are taken as an injection once a week and make you feel full so you eat less, and can help people lose up to 20% of their bodyweight. It was initially a drug licensed to treat Type 2 Diabetes but has since become an option for dealing with the obesity crisis, with two thirds of Scottish adults overweight and 32% living with obesity, which is the highest level recorded in more than 20 years. Read More The drugs also have side effects that can have a dangerous effect on patients, including sickness and diarrhoea while more severe cases show a risk of pancreatitis and gastroparesis. Medical professionals are worried about the impact the illicit drugs are having on the market with Dr Jack Henderson of the Stockbridge Clinic fearing patients are receiving dangerous medicines. He said: "We're deeply concerned about people unknowingly purchasing counterfeit medications online. "Many patients have no idea they're buying fake products that may contain dangerous substances or incorrect dosages. We have seen patients who thought they were getting legitimate medication but were actually injecting completely unknown and unregulated substances. "We need much stronger regulation of online suppliers selling these medications. The illegal market has grown exponentially, and even with legitimate NHS access, people continue to turn to cheaper, unregulated sources. 'We urgently need authorities to crack down on these dangerous suppliers before more people are seriously harmed."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Jabs like Mounjaro 'could help manage asthma for obese people'
Researchers said the drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with the respiratory condition, who are "often resistant" to steroids Injections used by those trying to lose weight could potentially alleviate asthma symptoms in obese people, a recent study suggests. The research indicates that these drugs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), should be considered as a potential treatment for obese people suffering from the respiratory condition, who are "often resistant" to steroids. These injections - originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes - function by imitating the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Several variations of the drug are recommended by the NHS to combat obesity, including semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro. Previous research has suggested that these drugs may significantly reduce the risk of diseases such as dementia and stroke. An international team of experts is currently investigating their potential impact on obese people with asthma, reports Bristol Live. Professor David Price, chair in primary care respiratory medicine at the University of Aberdeen, stated: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids." In the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs, and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. Following a period of observation, the team discovered that those taking the injections lost more weight and had improved control over their asthma. Researchers have suggested that medical professionals "should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases". Prof Price stated: "We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. "In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further." Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, commented: "Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs." Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. "Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. "It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment."
