Ozempic-style jabs are prescribed ten times more in the Western Isles than Shetland in Scotland's NHS 'postcode lottery'

The ABPI's first-ever cross-Scotland prescribing study found tenfold variation in access to approved medicines including Ozempic-style weight-loss jabs between NHS boards, with patients in some areas waiting far longer than others for treatments already judged effective and good value. Victoria Jordan of the ABPI warned that "avoidable barriers" — not differences in patient need — are driving the gap, and called for co-ordinated action across government, the NHS and industry.

Western Isles prescribes the drugs at ten times the rate of Shetland, Scotland's lowest-prescribing health board.

A full 71% of Scottish patients taking weight-loss medication in the past year obtained it privately, not through the NHS.

The ABPI has set out seven priority areas and is urging Scottish Government ministers and health board bosses to lead reform within 90 days.