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Poll of the day: Should weight loss drugs like Mounjaro be widely available on the NHS?
A major expansion of NHS weight loss treatment begins today, as GPs across England are now able to prescribe Mounjaro – an injectable drug also known as tirzepatide – for the first time.
Once limited to specialist clinics or private prescriptions, Mounjaro will now be accessible through general practice for people with severe obesity, specifically, those with a BMI over 40 and at least four related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnoea.
The move is part of a wider rollout aimed at reaching around 220,000 people over the next three years.
Supporters see it as a breakthrough in tackling obesity-related illness and easing long-term pressure on the NHS. But others, including leading GPs and pharmacy experts, have warned of potential downsides – from increasing workload and training demands to fears the drug will be seen as a quick fix without proper lifestyle support.
'There's no silver bullet,' said Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs. 'We also need to see a focus on prevention, stopping people becoming overweight in the first place so they don't require a medical intervention later,' she added.
As the NHS begins this major initiative, we want to know what you think: should weight loss drugs like Mounjaro be made widely available on the NHS? Or should they only be reserved for the most severe cases?
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