Fab jabs could soon be available over the counter at pharmacies without the need for a GP
FAT JAB FIX Fab jabs could soon be available over the counter at pharmacies without the need for a GP
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FAT jabs could be made available over the counter at pharmacies without the need for a GP to get involved.
It is one idea set to be trialled to enable access to Mounjaro and Wegovy in an £85million drive to combat obesity.
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Others include health apps to help people stay on track and peer support groups.
It is part of the Government's Ten-Year Health Plan to build an NHS 'fit for the future'.
Tens of thousands of Brits are expected to benefit from the scheme, which aims to ease pressure on the NHS and GPs.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said pharmaceutical giant Lilly was pumping cash into the initiative to make it easier for obese people to access NHS weight management services.
He said: 'There's been a groundbreaking pace of change in obesity treatment through weight loss drugs.
'We must eradicate the two-tier healthcare system which creates inequalities in access, meaning some people pay for drugs privately, while those who are struggling are unable to access the help they need.'
Prof Rachel Batterham, at Lilly, said the programme marks an 'important milestone in advancing new models of care for obesity'.
Fat jabs, or GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimic hormones that tell the brain the stomach is full.
They are only available on the NHS to those with a BMI of more than 35.
Mounjaro will be available to 220,000 people over the next three years, NHS England guidance suggests.
Millions more could benefit but face waits of several years to get the drug.
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