Aid groups say Israel's new rules will block much-needed supplies to Gaza
The mounting backlash over aid restrictions and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have been cited by several countries as a factor in their moves towards recognising Palestinian statehood.
The non-profit groups, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders and CARE, were responding to registration rules announced by Israel in March that require organisations to hand over full lists of their donors and Palestinian staff for vetting.
They contend doing so could endanger their staff and give Israel broad grounds to block aid if groups are deemed to be 'delegitimising' the country or supporting boycotts or divestment.
Most of them have not been able to deliver 'a single truck' of life-saving assistance since March
The aid groups stressed yesterday that most of them have not been able to deliver 'a single truck' of life-saving assistance since Israel implemented a blockade in March.
The aid that the groups provide supplements assistance from the United Nations, air-drops organised by foreign governments and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – the new Israel and US-backed contractor that since May has been the primary distributor of aid in Gaza.
Despite those channels, the amount of aid reaching Gaza remains far below what the UN and relief groups previously delivered.
UN agencies and a small number of aid groups have resumed delivering assistance, but say the number of trucks allowed in remains far from sufficient.
COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, denied the claims in the NGOs' letter.
It said 380 trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday. And yesterday, the Israeli military said, 119 aid packages containing food for Gaza residents were air-dropped by six countries.
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During the two-month ceasefire, aid groups demanded Israel allow entry for 600 trucks a day.
Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on Gaza City killed one person and wounded three others, an official at Al-Shifa Hospital said yesterday.
A separate strike killed five people in Gaza City yesterday morning, according to Al-Ahli hospital, which received the casualties.
The enclave's health ministry yesterday also reported four additional malnutrition-related deaths, raising the total to 239, a toll that includes 106 children.
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The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Your ultimate guide to beat the Mounjaro price hike – from switching jabs to getting them FREE on the NHS
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Costs vary depending on the provider, jab and dosage, but are currently between around £120 and £220 per month. But that's all set to change, as the US-based maker of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, told The Sun it will be increasing charges in Britain to 'address inconsistencies' with prices it commands from other western countries. Advertisement The price the pharma giant charges pharmacies for a mid-range 5mg dose will nearly double from £92 to £180 from September 1. The maximum available dose, 15mg, will rise from £122 to £330. Eli Lilly claimed to have negotiated with big private suppliers to ensure the whole price increase is not passed on to patients - but with pharmacies already marking up jab prices, the public can expect to see the cost increase. It marks a huge blow for those for whom the jab offers a life-saving way out of obesity. The hefty price would affect those currently on the jabs, as well as those who had hoped to pay for them long-term to avoid weight regain. Toby Nicol, CEO at CheqUp, which has around 50,000 customers on weight loss jabs, said: 'This news will be disappointing for those who have achieved life-changing results with Mounjaro. Advertisement 'This is particularly the case for those on higher doses who will likely see substantial rises in price." Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons Mounjaro has been dubbed the 'King Kong' of fat jabs because its success tops other brands, including Wegovy (also called Ozempic for type 2 diabetes), and Saxenda. Now, with people considering switching to Wegvoy, some providers appear to have hiked prices of the alternative jab that's similar to Ozempic, in response to the update. Mr Nicol, who says they have reduced the price of Wegovy on CheqUp, says: "Wegovy is a brilliant drug and that's why we don't want anyone to be priced out and think they have to take something which is unsafe. "Do not buy from the cowboys. If the price is to good to be true, it probably is." Advertisement There is no direct dose equivalent, so swapping between drugs is not possible Dr Suhail Hussain Dr Ralph Abraham, a diabetes and endocrinology specialist verified on Doctify, a healthcare review platform, says: 'There is no problem in switching from one drug to another. 'But in a world where the drugs are often not prescribed by experienced doctors, it then becomes difficult to know where side effects might lie.' Here, we answer the worries of readers and address how this could influence weight loss jabs and their success. CAN I SWITCH TO WEGOVY? IT depends who you ask. Mr Nicol says: "It's clinically acceptable to go from Mounjaro to Wegovy. We are developing our own switching plan. Advertisement 'While Mounjaro remains the most effective treatment available, Wegovy is a more affordable option and is also clinically proven as a highly effective weight loss drug that has delivered incredible results for people who are on a weight loss journey. 'We are ready and able to provide advice to those who are looking to switch.' But Dr Suhail Hussain, a private GP verified on Doctify, believes this is likely to affect weight loss. 'There is no direct dose equivalent, so swapping between drugs is not possible,' he says. Wegovy is prescribed between 0.25mg and 2.4mg, while Mounjaro has doses between 2.5mg and 15mg. Advertisement Dr Hussain said: 'The weight loss drugs are generally started at the lowest dose and titrated up. 'So if you were on mid-strength Mounjaro you would have to go onto the lowest strength Wegovy. 'There may also need to be a 'wash out' period to wean off one on to the other - which will again have impact on results." But Mr Nicol says: "It doesn't feel right to do that, it's like a game of snakes and ladders. "We'd be saying to people, for example, on 7.5mg of Mounjaro, that they shuold be transferring over to 1.7mg of Wegovy." Advertisement Patients should receive clinically appropriate care, under supervision, that aligns with their individual health needs and personal circumstances, experts said. WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SWITCHING TO WEGOVY? A USER would also need to adjust to the side effects of a new medicine. While these are relatively the same for either jab, there are slight differences. 'Mounjaro tends to be better tolerated in terms of GI side effects than Weygovy, so you may experience more nausea or vomiting etc,' says Dr Hussain. The 'very common' side effects of both Mounjaro and Wegovy are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation, according to Asda Online Doctor. Advertisement But Wegovy also says headache, stomach pain and feeling weak or tired are very common. WILL I LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT ON WEGOVY? THE active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, while in Mounjaro it is tirzepatide. Both work in a very similar way on the body. Dr Hussain says: 'The two drugs work in a similar way (both are GLP-1 receptor agonists) but have some important differences. 'Mounjaro is a dual GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist, while Wegovy is GLP-1 agonist only. 'Therefore, there may be a difference in impact on appetite suppression and hence subsequent weight loss.' Advertisement Mounjaro is a Ferrari, Wegovy is a Porsche, and diet and exercise is a horse and cart. Toby Nicol GLP-1 is a natural hormone released in your gut when you eat. By activating GLP-1 receptors, Wegovy helps slow down stomach emptying and control blood sugar levels, helping with fullness and sending a message to the brain to reduce food intake. Mounjaro does this too, but also mimics the hormone GIP, which also plays a role in blood sugar regulation and appetite. It's dual-action may be why Mounjaro is the preferred jab of choice for weight loss. 2 Is your weight loss journey at risk of being halted? You have options, experts say Credit: Getty Advertisement How much does Mounjaro cost now? The price of Mounjaro doses: These are general prices, but they vary by provider within a £30 range. 2.5mg: £120 5mg: £140 7.5mg: £150 10mg: £170 12.5mg: £210 15mg: £210 Mounjaro can help you lose around 21 per cent of your body weight, while Wegovy can help you lose 14.9 per cent. In one trial of Mounjaro, the SURMOUNT-1 trial of tirzepatide in non-diabetic patients over 72 weeks, people lost up to 22.5 per cent of their body weight while taking the highest maintenance dose. More than 89 per cent of people lost at least five per cent of their starting weight. STEP-1, a 68-week clinical trial carried out to study the weight loss effects of semaglutide (Wegovy), found that people lost up to 17 per cent of their body weight after taking the 2.4mg maintenance dose. Up to 85 per cent of patients lost at least five per cent of their starting weight. Advertisement Mr Nicol said: "Mounjaro is a Ferrari, Wegovy is a Porsche, and diet and exercise is a horse and cart." HOW CAN I GET THE JAB CHEAPER? SWITCHING to Wegovy might save you money - if your provider hasn't increased its prices. Below is a box showing the price of the highest dose of Wegovy and Mounjaro - but because the doses are not comparable, it's difficult to also compare their prices. Eli Lilly claimed it is negotiating with providers so that the whole increase is not passed on to patients. Mr Nicol said: 'At CheqUp we are determined to support our patients as best we can – and can announce today that despite these price rises we will not raise prices for those who are on the two lowest doses of Mounjaro. Advertisement 'We will also not pass on the full cost of the price rise for those on higher doses.' PRICES OF MOUNJARO AND WEGOVY Below is a price comparison of Mounjaro and Wegovy at some of the UK's most popular providers. NOTE: SOME PROVIDERS CONSIDER THE HIGHEST DOSE A MAINTENANCE DOSE AT THE END OF TREATMENT, AND IT IS NOT IMPERATIVE TO REACH IT. DOSES ARE ALSO NOT COMPARABLE. Prices as of August 14, 2025 CheqUp Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £209 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £160 ASDA Online Doctor Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £204 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £188.98 Oxford Online Pharmacy Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £198.97 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £248.99 MedExpress Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £199.99 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £199.99 Superdrug Online Doctor Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £245 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £295 HOW CAN I GET MOUNJARO FREE ON THE NHS? IT was a game-changing moment when the NHS announced it would be prescribing weight loss jabs for free. You need to fit a strict set of criteria to be eligible, but the initial rollout is extremely limited to just 22,000 patients over the next three years. There are 3.4million people in England who would qualify for treatment under the NICE eligibility criteria. The NHS says you'll only be prescribed semaglutide (Wegovy) if you have health problems due to your weight and you have a BMI of either: Advertisement 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service Only a specialist weight management service can prescribe semaglutide. 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For example, a statement from Dr Khan's Practice in Clayton, Manchester, read: 'Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is not currently available anywhere in Greater Manchester, including GP practices, hospitals or specialist weight management services. Advertisement 'Please do not contact us to request it – you'll be contacted directly if you are eligible when the service becomes available in the area. 'Dr Khans Practice are not prescribing GLP-1 medications for weight loss until a service agreement is in place with Manchester ICB which is currently under review.'
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Witness to genocide: Palestinian doctor living in Meath showcases new book that shares raw testimonies from Gaza surgeons
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Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Aid groups say Israel's new rules will block much-needed supplies to Gaza
At the same time, hospital officials reported more deaths from Israeli airstrikes and an increasing toll from malnutrition. The mounting backlash over aid restrictions and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have been cited by several countries as a factor in their moves towards recognising Palestinian statehood. The non-profit groups, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders and CARE, were responding to registration rules announced by Israel in March that require organisations to hand over full lists of their donors and Palestinian staff for vetting. They contend doing so could endanger their staff and give Israel broad grounds to block aid if groups are deemed to be 'delegitimising' the country or supporting boycotts or divestment. Most of them have not been able to deliver 'a single truck' of life-saving assistance since March The aid groups stressed yesterday that most of them have not been able to deliver 'a single truck' of life-saving assistance since Israel implemented a blockade in March. The aid that the groups provide supplements assistance from the United Nations, air-drops organised by foreign governments and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – the new Israel and US-backed contractor that since May has been the primary distributor of aid in Gaza. Despite those channels, the amount of aid reaching Gaza remains far below what the UN and relief groups previously delivered. UN agencies and a small number of aid groups have resumed delivering assistance, but say the number of trucks allowed in remains far from sufficient. COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, denied the claims in the NGOs' letter. It said 380 trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday. And yesterday, the Israeli military said, 119 aid packages containing food for Gaza residents were air-dropped by six countries. ADVERTISEMENT During the two-month ceasefire, aid groups demanded Israel allow entry for 600 trucks a day. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on Gaza City killed one person and wounded three others, an official at Al-Shifa Hospital said yesterday. A separate strike killed five people in Gaza City yesterday morning, according to Al-Ahli hospital, which received the casualties. The enclave's health ministry yesterday also reported four additional malnutrition-related deaths, raising the total to 239, a toll that includes 106 children.
