Millions more could benefit from using weight-loss jabs

Health & FitnessLifestyle
5 Sep 2025 • 5:00 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Thousands of NHS patients are unable to access the weight-loss jab Mounjaro due to significant funding shortfalls and a slow roll-out across England.
  • Fewer than half of England's commissioning bodies have begun prescribing Mounjaro on the NHS, over two months after national guidance was issued.
  • Despite an estimated 3.4 million people who could potentially benefit, current NHS funding for Integrated Care Boards covers only a fraction of eligible patients, creating a 'postcode lottery' for care.
  • Experts warn that underfunding and poor communication are causing distress for patients and primary care, potentially exacerbating the obesity crisis and its associated costs.
  • The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has pledged to improve NHS access to weight-loss jabs, following price increases by Mounjaro's manufacturer in the private sector.

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