Thousands of patients in England are unable to access weight loss jabs via their GP, according to figures that highlight concerns over the NHS rollout being “not fit for purpose.” Family doctors were given the green light to prescribe the drugs in June, with an estimated 220,000 people with the “greatest need” expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide and made by Eli Lilly, on the NHS over the next three years. However, less than half (18 out of 42) of the commissioning bodies across England have confirmed that they have begun prescribing the drug, leading to criticism that there is a “postcode lottery” of access to weight loss jabs on the NHS.
NHS England had planned a phased rollout of the drug over a period of up to 12 years, but the data suggests that even eligible patients cannot currently access the medication. Freedom of information requests made by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that few integrated care boards (ICBs) have been allocated enough NHS funding for patients eligible for weight loss drugs. Only nine ICBs had the funding needed to cover at least 70% of their eligible patients, according to the BMJ’s report.
Dr. Jonathan Hazlehurst, a consultant endocrinologist and academic clinical lecturer at the University of Birmingham, commented that the rollout was “significantly underfunded.” He expressed concerns about the distress and uncertainty for both patients and primary care providers, as well as the risk of unequal access to treatment. The first year’s eligible patients include those with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 and other complications such as high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, or type 2 diabetes.
Around 90% of patients on Mounjaro are currently paying for it privately, as the NHS funding allocation is insufficient to cover the eligible population. Recent pledges by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to address the affordability issue come amid the manufacturer of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, announcing a potential 170% price increase in the private sector.
NHS England maintains its full support for the phased rollout of Mounjaro for eligible patients, with funding provided to commissioning bodies in March. The Department of Health and Social Care expects that these bodies will make the drug available as part of the phased rollout to reach those with the highest need.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/04/mounjaro-weight-loss-jabs-access-nhs-gp
