GPs can prescribe weight loss jabs on the NHS from today - but strict eligibility criteria in place

GPs volition beryllium capable to prescribe value nonaccomplishment jabs connected the NHS from today.

About 220,000 radical with the "greatest need" are acceptable to person Mounjaro - with strict criteria for the archetypal twelvemonth of the rollout.

Initially, lone those with a assemblage wide scale of implicit 40 who person astatine slightest 4 different wellness problems linked to obesity volition beryllium eligible.

Some doctors person raised concerns astir the further workload this caller programme volition bring, portion pharmacists fearfulness it could pb to proviso shortages.

While an estimated 1.5 cardinal radical are present taking value nonaccomplishment drugs crossed the UK, they could antecedently lone beryllium accessed done specializer services oregon backstage prescriptions.

Dr Claire Fuller from NHS England said: "We urgently request to code rising levels of obesity and prioritise enactment for those who are experiencing terrible sick wellness - and greater entree to value nonaccomplishment drugs volition marque a important quality to the lives of those people."

She added: "While not everyone volition beryllium eligible for value nonaccomplishment drugs, it's important that anyone who is disquieted astir the interaction of their value connected their wellness discusses the scope of NHS enactment disposable with their healthcare professional."

The chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs welcomed NHS England's determination to prosecute a phased rollout, and said existent workloads indispensable beryllium factored successful to guarantee the jabs tin beryllium prescribed safely.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne went connected to say: "While value nonaccomplishment medications person a batch of imaginable benefits for patients who are struggling to suffer value and who conscionable each the objective criteria for a prescription, they mustn't beryllium seen arsenic a 'silver bullet' to assistance value loss.

"We besides request to spot a absorption connected prevention, stopping radical becoming overweight successful the archetypal spot truthful they don't necessitate a aesculapian involution later."

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Her remarks were echoed by the National Pharmacy Association's president Olivier Picard, who says "prescribing these medications unsocial misses the point".

He argued that they request to beryllium portion of a broad strategy that includes manner coaching, workout and nutritional guidance - but galore GPs presently "lack the bandwidth" to supply this support.

"As a result, we could extremity up successful a concern wherever patients are prescribed the medication, suffer weight, and past acquisition rebound value summation erstwhile the people ends - simply due to the fact that the foundational manner changes weren't addressed," Mr Picard added.

Estimates suggest astir 29% of the big colonisation is obese.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the authorities "is determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not conscionable those who tin spend to pay".