Thousands of people with the ‘greatest need’ are expected to receive Mounjaro through the NHS over the next three years
Mounjaro may be available to people through the NHS if they meet the criteria(Image: PA)
People struggling with their weight and associated health issues may be eligible for weight loss jab Mounjaro on the NHS. Figures suggest that thousands of people who could benefit from the injection are missing out due to funding issues.
NHS England has put in place a phased rollout of the drug over a period of up to 12 years, but the data suggests even patients who are eligible now cannot get the drug. According to data gathered by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), fewer than half (18 out of 42) of commissioning bodies across England have started prescribing the drug on the NHS in line with health service guidance.
The vast majority of patients on Mounjaro currently pay for it privately. According to the BMJ, few integrated care boards (ICBs) have been allocated enough NHS funding for patients who could be treated on the health service. It said only nine had the funding needed to cover at least 70% of their eligible patients. This comes as a dental expert warned that a hidden cause of weight gain could be in a person’s mouth, as reported by ChronicleLive.
In June, it was announced around 220,000 people with the “greatest need” are expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide and made by Lilly, through the NHS over the next three years. Tirzepatide, or Mounjaro, is an antidiabetic drug which lowers blood sugar levels and slows down how quickly food is digested.
It makes you feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. If the jab is recommended by a healthcare professional, those using it will need to eat a balanced, reduced-calorie diet and to exercise regularly while taking it, according to the NHS website.
In the first year of the programme, the drug 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. It was previously only accessible to patients through a special weight loss service, to severely obese people who also suffer from a range of other health problems, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Estimates suggest around 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight loss drugs, which may have been prescribed through specialist weight loss services or via private prescription. The drug is usually delivered through a self-administered weekly injection which a doctor or nurse will show patients how to use, the NHS website says.
Mounjaro is not recommended for those who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding or have certain health conditions, according to the NHS. Potential side effects of tirzepatide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
When Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should be used
The NHS explains that tirzepatide is taken once a week. You may be prescribed tirzepatide by a healthcare professional at a specialist weight management service if they feel it is the right treatment for you.
You may also be able to get tirzepatide from your GP, although it’s currently only available if you meet the criteria listed below. Tirzepatide for weight management is suitable for adults living with obesity and another weight-related health problem.
You may be eligible for tirzepatide from a GP if you have a BMI of 40 or more and have at least four of these weight-related health conditions:
type 2 diabeteshigh blood pressure (hypertension)heart disease (cardiovascular disease)abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia)obstructive sleep apnoea
If you have at least four of these conditions but your BMI is less than 40, you may be eligible for tirzepatide due to your ethnicity. This is because people with some ethnic backgrounds have an increased risk of health conditions at lower BMIs.