The family of a woman who tragically passed away shortly after using an illegal £20 ‘skinny jab’ from the black market met with Wes Streeting to advocate for stricter regulations on the sale of unlicensed weight loss medications.
Karen McGonigal, a 53-year-old woman from Salford in Greater Manchester, lost her life in May last year after receiving an unauthorized dose of semaglutide at a beauty salon. Her daughters, Abbie and Ffion McGonigal, are urging for harsher penalties for individuals selling unsafe weight loss injections and increased access to approved drugs through the NHS.
NHS began offering safe weight loss treatments in June last year following research highlighting the risks associated with visceral fat accumulation around specific organs.
Abbie McGonigal expressed, “If we can prevent one person from experiencing what we’ve endured, then our efforts are worthwhile,” during an interview with ITV.
The Health Secretary commended the family for raising awareness about the hazards of purchasing unregulated medications. Addressing the McGonigal family, Wes Streeting mentioned, “Your courage in sharing your mother’s story has resonated with many, prompting them to pay attention.”
Acknowledging the need for easier access to medications on the NHS to discourage the use of dangerous alternatives, the Health Secretary emphasized the importance of preventing individuals from resorting to risky options due to limited availability.
Last year, the McGonigal family became the first in the UK to publicly discuss a death linked to counterfeit ‘skinny jabs’. Legally, weight-loss injections must be dispensed with a prescription from healthcare professionals like doctors or pharmacists.
Due to the unavailability of the medication from her GP, Karen sought out a beautician offering the injections for £20 each. Four days post her last injection, Karen was hospitalized, and after two days in intensive care, her life support was discontinued. The family suspects the unlicensed weight-loss jabs contributed to her untimely demise.
Representatives from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also attended the meeting with the Health Secretary. Following the meeting, the family expressed feeling heard and appreciated the support received.
Abbie is confident that their mother would be proud of their advocacy work for change. She emphasized the importance of preventing others from enduring similar pain.
Wes Streeting expressed gratitude to Abbie and Ffion for discussing their mother’s tragic passing and advocating for better regulations on weight loss drugs. He highlighted the government’s collaboration with MHRA to combat the illegal sale of unlicensed weight loss medications and to educate the public about the dangers of obtaining medication from unregulated sources.
