Thousands of patients in England will gain access to weight-loss injections through their GP starting Monday. This marks the first time that family doctors will be authorized to prescribe these drugs. Approximately 220,000 individuals with the “greatest need” will be eligible to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide and manufactured by Eli Lilly, on the NHS over the next three years.
Mounjaro works by decreasing blood sugar levels and slowing down digestion. GPs will be allowed to prescribe the drug to severely obese patients with various health problems. Previously, patients could only access these drugs through specialized weight loss services.
Some GPs have expressed concerns about the additional workload and pharmacy experts have raised concerns about potential shortages of the drug. Initially, during the first year of the program, the injections will be offered to individuals with a BMI of over 40 and at least four obesity-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Estimates suggest that around 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight-loss drugs, either through specialist weight loss services or by private prescription. Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, stated that while weight-loss drugs have potential benefits, there are concerns about the impact on GPs’ workload. She emphasized the need to prioritize prevention to avoid medical interventions in the future.
Olivier Picard, the chair of the National Pharmacy Association, mentioned that demand for weight-loss injections is rising rapidly and that NHS provision may not meet the demand immediately. As a result, many people are expected to seek injections privately from a pharmacy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/23/nhs-begins-mass-rollout-of-weight-loss-jabs-to-patients-in-england
