Ozempic-like fat jabs to be available on NHS at high street pharmacies WITHOUT having to see a GP
Once the deal is signed, Brits could walk into a pharmacy, have a quick check-up, and walk out with a month's supply - all for just £9.90
JAB ALERT Ozempic-like fat jabs to be available on NHS at high street pharmacies WITHOUT having to see a GP
BRITS could soon be able to get Ozempic-style fat jabs from high street pharmacies, according to reports.
Drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro will be available over the counter after a short consultation at the cost of an NHS prescription, they claim.
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Pharmacists might soon be able to dish out fat jabs on the NHS
Credit: Getty
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This means drugs like Wegovy might soon be easier to get
Credit: Reuters
Right now, only a few can get their hands on the powerful jabs – and only after speaking to a doctor and trying other weight-loss methods first.
Ministers are planning to massively widen access to the jabs through "creative" routes. This includes rolling them out in high street chemists, health centres and apps, according to the Daily Mail.
The shake-up could slash wait times, making it far easier for eligible Brits to get the drug,
To get the drug currently, people have to get referred by a GP to a specialist weight loss clinic, with some currently stuck in a two-year queue.
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Once the deal is signed, Brits could walk into a pharmacy, have a quick check-up, and walk out with a month's supply - all for just £9.90, the same as an NHS prescription.
That's a lot cheaper than paying £150 a month to get the injections privately, which are currently available from some pharmacies.
But experts have called the reports speculative, warning that obesity drugs should only be used under medical supervision and by those who are eligible.
A government spokesperson told Sky News: "As the government shifts the NHS from sickness to prevention, we will be looking across the board at how these drugs can be made available to more people who can benefit from them.
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"The NHS is already tackling obesity in innovative ways, including through community care models and digital technologies, to help deliver these drugs as part of a rounded package of care."
Earlier estimates from NICE suggest that around 3.4 million people in England could benefit from weight loss injections
But last December, NICE said only 220,000 patients would be able to get the jabs on the NHS in the first three years, meaning millions could face waits of up to 12 years for treatment.
Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis
The drugs work by mimicking hormones that make you feel full, squashing your appetite so you eat fewer calories and lose weight rapidly.
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In clinical trials, people taking Wegovy lost 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their body weight.
They've also been shown to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
But experts have warned about serious side effects too, including stomach paralysis, pancreas inflammation, and even vision loss.
In February, The Sun revealed that 82 Brits have died after using weight-loss and diabetes jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The details of why they died were not shared.
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It comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) prepares to officially endorse weight-loss drugs to tackle obesity in adults for the first time.
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