NHS Western Isles prescribes weight loss drugs at triple the rate of other health boards
UKPulse Health Desk
A new report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry found significant variation in prescribing rates for new medicines across Scotland's health boards, with NHS Western Isles prescribing weight loss and diabetes drugs at almost three times the rate of any other board.
- NHS Western Isles prescribed GLP-1 medications at a rate of 1,086.54 per head of population between June to August 2025
- This is more than triple the rate of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which had a rate of 392.97
- The report highlighted significant variation in access to new medicines across Scotland's health boards
A new report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has found significant variation in prescribing rates for new medicines across Scotland's health boards. 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 prescribed the highest rate of GLP-1 medications at 1,086.54 per head of population between June to August 2025, followed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with a rate of 392.97. The report authors noted that there are limitations to the data, including the fact that it does not identify which prescriptions were for diabetes and which for weight loss.
The ABPI made seven recommendations, including better planning and co-operation alongside more transparency by health boards about decisions on what medicines to use locally, and how quickly accepted medicines are being introduced.
Why this matters: The report highlights significant variation in access to new medicines across Scotland's health boards, which could have implications for patient care and outcomes.
What this means for you: If you live in Scotland, this report may be relevant to your local healthcare services and the availability of certain medications.