Thousands of patients in England will be able to access weight-loss jabs via their GP from Monday for the first time, as the NHS begins a mass rollout of Mounjaro (tirzepatide). About 220,000 people with the greatest need are expected to receive the Eli Lilly drug over the next three years.
The drug works by lowering blood sugar levels and slowing down how quickly food is digested. Initially, it 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.
However, GP leaders have expressed concerns about the additional workload. Prof Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'While we recognise the potential benefits, we know many GPs are concerned about the implications of the rollout, both in terms of workload and training to appropriately initiate and manage these treatments.'
Pharmacy experts also warned of possible pressure on supplies. Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'As the NHS moves to implement Nice guidance, we expect prescription volumes to increase rapidly. However, NHS provision won’t meet demand straight away, so we fully expect many people will continue seeking it privately from a pharmacy.'
About 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight-loss drugs, either via specialist services or private prescription. The new programme aims to expand access while ensuring safe delivery amid intense workload pressures on GPs.
