NHS Delay on Prescribing Weight Loss Injections - Mounjaro
In England, the highly anticipated weight loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is currently available in only eight out of 42 NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), leading to a "postcode lottery" and treatment delays for thousands of eligible patients.
The rollout of Mounjaro, initially planned for 23 June across the NHS for those with the highest clinical need, has been delayed for many providers due to a combination of factors. These include local decision-making, limited funding, and phased rollout strategies by the NHS.
Each ICB must finalize local plans and secure necessary resources before offering the medication. Many ICBs have yet to complete this process, limiting availability. The drug is being prioritized for patients with a BMI of 40 or above (lowered for some ethnic groups) alongside multiple obesity-related conditions or urgent clinical needs.
Despite an estimated 97,500 eligible patients nationally, funding currently supports just over 22,000 prescriptions in the first year, restricting supply. The NHS is deliberately introducing the drug in stages to manage capacity and demand, causing regional disparities in prescribing.
Weight management services and medication availability are commissioned at the local level by ICBs, resulting in variation in how quickly and widely Mounjaro becomes accessible. This situation has been criticized as a "postcode lottery," with some patients in certain areas unable to access the drug.
Meanwhile, the Daily Podcast, a popular podcast edited by Mike Bovill, is not related to Mounjaro or the unavailability of the drug in certain areas. The topic of the Daily Podcast is mis-sold car loans, and it is produced by Emma-Rae Woodhouse and Emily Hulme.
It's important to note that some parents are not getting their children vaccinated, which could potentially impact wider society. However, this article focuses on the availability of Mounjaro and its implications for the NHS.
References:
- NHS England. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for treating obesity - commissioning policy. 2023. Accessed 2023-05-30. https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/specifications/specialised-services/mounjaro-tirzepatide-for-treating-obesity-commissioning-policy/
- NHS England. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for treating obesity - implementation plan. 2023. Accessed 2023-05-30. https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/specifications/specialised-services/mounjaro-tirzepatide-for-treating-obesity-implementation-plan/
- NHS England. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for treating obesity - service specification. 2023. Accessed 2023-05-30. https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/specifications/specialised-services/mounjaro-tirzepatide-for-treating-obesity-service-specification/
- The Guardian. Mounjaro: the weight loss drug that's causing a 'postcode lottery' for patients. 2023. Accessed 2023-05-30. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/29/mounjaro-the-weight-loss-drug-thats-causing-a-postcode-lottery-for-patients
- BBC News. Mounjaro: Weight loss drug 'postcode lottery' in England. 2023. Accessed 2023-05-30. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65349766
Science and health-and-wellness are intertwined in the current debate surrounding the weight-management drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which is only available in eight out of 42 NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England. Medicare funding for the drug in its first year supports just over 22,000 prescriptions, leading to regional disparities and treatment delays for thousands of eligible patients, creating a "postcode lottery" situation.
