A phased rollout of Mounjaro is set to begin across the UK next week as GP surgeries issue an urgent warning to patients.
Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is a drug that lowers blood sugar levels and is available for patients with type 2 diabetes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Back in December, however, the NHS announced that it would approve Mounjaro for treating obesity in England and Wales, and that it will be made available via some GPs in June.
The drug is currently only available for weight loss within the NHS in Scotland, but soon patients in England and Wales could be eligible.
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When is the NHS rollout of Mounjaro happening?
By Monday (23 June), the NHS is set to do a phased rollout of the drug to eligible patients for weight-loss purposes.
The way Mounjaro works is that when it's injected, it reduces appetite and makes you feel full for longer by stabilising your blood sugar.
Combining the drug with a reduction in food intake and regular exercise can make you lose weight faster than normal. Although there have been some side effects.
Who will be eligible for Mounjaro on the NHS?
From March 2025, some people have already been able to get Mounjaro through NHS specialist weight management clinics.
But from next week onwards, more may be able to get Mounjaro through their local GP, but must meet a strict criteria to be considered.
According to Oxford Online Pharmacy, this could include people who:
• Have a BMI of 40 or above and at least four other health conditions
• Have a BMI of 35-39.9 and at least four other health conditions
• People with a BMI of 40 and three health conditions
These eligible health conditions include 'type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or sleep apnoea'.
How are GPs across the UK reacting?
Now, the NHS has said that only up to 220,000 people might be offered Mounjaro over the next three years.
And many GPs have warned that they still won't be able to prescribe it to patients.
As reported by The Sun, Crayford Town Surgery in Kent said: “We do not prescribe weight loss jabs so please do not ask.”
Fairhill Medical Practice in Kingston, South West London, added: “Once we are able to prescribe, they will be offered to those with the highest medical need only.”
While Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “NHS provision won’t meet demand straight away.
“In reality, many GPs lack the bandwidth to deliver the level of support needed.
“We expect that many people will continue seeking it privately.”
Ozempic, meanwhile, isn't prescribed for weight loss by the NHS as its manufacturer Novo Nordisk said it's supposed to be 'a medicine for adults with Type-2 diabetes.'
LADbible Group has contacted the NHS and Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, for comment.
Anish Vij