The NHS is now prescribing the weight loss injection Mounjaro at a rate of nearly 200 prescriptions per hour, as demand for the drug has surged almost eight-fold in the past year. New figures show prescriptions rose from 18,501 in May 2024 to over 147,000 in May 2025, equating to 197 jabs per hour.
Mounjaro, approved for use in England in 2023, was initially limited to specialist weight-loss services. In June, thousands more patients became eligible to receive the drug through their GP as part of an NHS rollout. Currently, patients with a BMI of 40 or higher and multiple obesity-related health problems qualify, with the threshold set to drop to 35 from April.
Regional variations in prescribing rates are significant. North Lincolnshire leads with 543 prescriptions per 10,000 residents, nearly three times the national average of 190. In Greater Manchester, Stockport has the highest rate at 263 per 10,000, followed by Trafford (226) and Tameside and Glossop (205).
The drug's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, recently announced a near-tripling of the price for private prescriptions, rising from £122 to £330 for a month's supply of the highest dose from September 1. NHS prescriptions will be reimbursed at the new higher list prices following an agreement between Community Pharmacy England and the Department of Health and Social Care, ensuring pharmacies do not dispense at a loss. Eli Lilly has also confirmed an agreement with the NHS to maintain supply and patient access.
