7 hours ago
Who is eligible for Mounjaro as weight loss jab becomes available from GPs?
Here's who will be able to get Mounjaro, that treats types 2 diabetes and aids weight loss, on the NHS
Weight-loss injections have surged in popularity over the last couple of years, fuelled by celebrity endorsements and social media exposure. And one jab that's capturing public attention and dominating headlines is Mounjaro.
Tirzepatide, to give the treatment its medical name, is a prescription injectable medication designed to help adults with type 2 diabetes better manage their blood sugar levels.
When combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, it can significantly improve glucose control, supporting a more balanced approach to diabetes management.
While originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro has been licensed in the UK to treat obesity since November 2024, and is effective in helping patients achieve significant weight loss.
Mounjaro received approval from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) for treating obesity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scotland had already approved Tirzepatide for obesity treatment through the Scottish Medicines Consortium, leading the way in making this medication available to patients.
But as of today, Monday, June 23, GPs in England will be able to prescribe weight loss jabs for the first time on the NHS, as the health service begins its mass rollout.
Some 220,000 people with the "greatest need" are expected to receive Mounjaro, made by pharmaceutical company Lilly, through the NHS over the next three years.
So, amid the recent change, who is actually eligible for Mounjaro? According to NHS England, the first group of patients who will be able to get the jab from their GP or a community clinic, will be those most in need.
In the first year of the programme, 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.
It was previously only accessible to patients through a special weight loss service, to severely obese people who also suffer from a range of other health problems.
People will also get "wrap-around" care - including support with exercising and following a healthy diet, for example. But prescriptions for the drug will not necessarily be available from all local GPs, according to the BBC. In some cases, they will come from other primary care services.
Some GP practices have issued notices on their websites saying very few patients on their lists, external will qualify for the medicine straight away and if anyone doesn't meet the criteria, they should not book an appointment.
What's more, according to the Company Chemists' Association, the trade association for large pharmacies, it is not looking too promising that all patients who want Mounjaro and meet the criteria will get it straight away.
Chief executive Malcolm Harrison said "it is unlikely that the planned GP provision will be sufficient to meet patient demand".
The drug is usually delivered through a self-administered weekly injection which a doctor or nurse will show patients how to use, the NHS website says.
Very few people are currently being prescribed drugs for weight loss on the NHS in Scotland, research by BBC Scotland News has established. Here, health boards make decisions on which medicines are available in their areas.
In the same breath that we talk about people who are eligible for Mounjaro, there are groups who cannot take it. Mounjaro is not recommended for those who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding or have certain health conditions, according to the NHS.
For those taking the contraceptive pill and using Tirzepatide, the NHS recommends using an additional method of contraception, such as a condom, for the first four weeks of treatment and for four weeks after each dose increase as the contraceptive pill may not be absorbed by the body during this time.
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