Mounjaro weight-loss injections now available through GP

Times

4 hours ago

Weight-loss injections will be prescribed by GPs for the first time this week as the NHS begins a mass rollout of the drugs.
About 220,000 severely obese people with the 'greatest need' will receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, from their doctor over the next three years.
Weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro had previously only been available through specialist NHS weight-loss clinics, which have long waiting lists.
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From Monday, GPs in England will be allowed to prescribe Mounjaro to severely obese people who also suffer from a range of other health problems.
The drug will be offered to people with a body mass index (BMI) score of more than 40 who have at least four other health problems linked to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obstructive sleep apnoea.
After the initial phase, expected to take three years, Mounjaro will then be offered to about three million more patients with a BMI of more than 35.
The drug is already taken by about 1.5 million people in the UK, the vast majority of whom buy it privately through online pharmacies for about £200 a month. Weight-loss jabs through the NHS have so far been limited to about 50,000 patients.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said: 'Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill health, costing the NHS billions. Yet we now have the science, technology and knowledge to end the obesity epidemic if we seize this opportunity.
'Obesity jabs are used by 1.5 million people in the UK, mainly through private prescriptions. The NHS was founded on a promise to 'universalise the best' and this government is determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.
'This rollout is an important step in making these medicines more widely available and beginning to shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, which our forthcoming ten-year plan will deliver.'
Doctors have raised concerns about the extra workload. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'While we recognise the potential benefits of weight-loss drugs, we know many GPs are concerned about the implications of the rollout of weight-loss drugs into general practice, both in terms of workload and training to appropriately initiate and manage these treatments.'
She added: 'GPs and our teams are already working under intense workload and workforce pressures, and this must be factored into this rollout in order to guarantee it can be delivered safely.
'More widely, whilst weight-loss medications have a lot of potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight and who meet all the clinical criteria for a prescription, they mustn't be seen as a 'silver bullet' to aid weight loss.
'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.'
Claire Fuller, from NHS England, said: 'This is an important next step in the rollout of weight-loss drugs, with community-based services now able to offer this treatment.
'We urgently need to address rising levels of obesity and prioritise support for those who are experiencing severe ill health — and greater access to weight-loss drugs will make a significant difference to the lives of those people.
'These drugs are an important tool alongside the range of wraparound NHS support and advice on good nutrition and increasing physical activity, which will be vital in helping some people lose weight and reduce their risk of serious long-term conditions.
'While not everyone will be eligible for weight-loss drugs, it's important that anyone who is worried about the impact of their weight on their health discusses the range of NHS support available with their healthcare professional.'