Give more people weight loss jabs on the NHS, say MPs
A cross-party group of MPs is urging the NHS to expand access to weight-loss injections like Mounjaro to combat obesity. They argue that the current limited rollout creates a two-tier system where only the wealthy can afford private treatment.
Why it matters
The debate over public funding for weight-loss drugs highlights the tension between healthcare costs and the economic burden of obesity.
Image source, Getty Images By Nick Triggle Health correspondent Published 39 minutes ago Hundreds of thousands more people should be given access to the weight-loss injection Mounjaro on the NHS in England, a cross-party group of MPs says.
The Health Committee said the current plan for 220,000 people to have this jab for free on prescription in 2028 was a "woefully small number" and "unambitious".
This represents only around 6% of eligible people and is a key reason why more than a million have been paying privately for weight-loss injections, including Mounjaro and Wegovy.
The committee says a two-tier system is emerging in which only the wealthy can get good access to the medication that curbs appetite.
Due to costs, the NHS is currently working on a 12-year rollout for Mounjaro - although this is being reviewed.
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