Uncovered deficiency in National Health Service (NHS) financing for weight-loss injection therapy

The rollout of the Mounjaro weight-loss jab, a promising new treatment for obesity, is facing funding shortages, according to Freedom of Information requests by the British Medical Journal.

NHS England has only provided funding for the rollout of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, for eligible patients starting in March 2025. This funding, however, is not sufficient to meet the demand, with only nine out of 40 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England saying they have enough funding to treat the 70% of eligible patients who are expected to come forward.

Four ICBs said NHS funding covered just 25% or fewer of their eligible patients, while Birmingham and Solihull ICB received funding to cover only 52%. This widespread underfunding and rationing of the drug across England is causing concern among health professionals.

Dr. Jonathan Hazlehurst, a prominent medical professional, stated that NHS England has only provided funding for 22,000 patients in the first year of the Mounjaro rollout. This number falls significantly short of the NHS's estimate that approximately 220,000 people living with obesity will be eligible for treatment through their GP over the next three years.

Ellen Welch, co-chair of the Doctors' Association UK (DAUK), stated that the rollout is not fit for purpose and there is a huge discrepancy between national messaging and what patients are receiving on a local level. Five ICBs are considering tightening prescribing criteria or rationing the Mounjaro treatment.

The NHS spokesperson states that these are brand-new services being established and scaled up over time, starting with those who are in the most need. In the meantime, eligible patients can get weight loss support from a range of other services, including the NHS Digital Weight Management program, while waiting for the Mounjaro treatment.

An investigation by a website earlier this summer found that access to Mounjaro is a postcode lottery for people living with obesity. This situation has raised questions about equity and fairness in the delivery of healthcare services.

The NHS acknowledges that obesity costs the NHS £11.4bn per annum, but they are struggling to fund the Mounjaro rollout adequately. This situation underscores the urgent need for long-term, sustainable funding for obesity treatments and prevention strategies.

As the rollout of the Mounjaro weight-loss jab continues, it is crucial that the NHS addresses these funding shortages to ensure that all eligible patients have access to this potentially life-changing treatment.

Uncovered deficiency in National Health Service (NHS) financing for weight-loss injection therapy