Plan for GPs to offer NHS patients Wegovy weight-loss jab

UK general practitioners may begin offering weight loss therapy to some patients to reduce obesity-related illnesses and the resulting burden on hospitals.

Wegovy was approved for use in the NHS after studies suggested users could lose more than 10% of their body weight.

This drug suppresses appetite, making users feel full and eating less.

Rishi Sunak has unveiled a £40m trial plan to increase access to professional weight management services, saying it could be a ‘game changer’.

But experts warn that the “skinny jab,” widely used in the United States and endorsed by many celebrities, is neither a quick fix nor an alternative to healthy eating and exercise. .

Under examinationusers often put back on weight after stopping treatment.

Similar injectables, such as Ozempic and Munjaro, which act much like Wegobee, are designed to treat diabetes, but are not yet approved for NHS use specifically for weight loss. .

The National Institute for Medical Excellence (NICE), the NHS drug watchdog, said patients could access Wegovy for up to two years through a specialized weight management service.

These are mainly hospital-based and only have access to about 35,000 people, although the government says tens of thousands more could be targeted, but the drug is still being supplied to the UK. do not have.

The new plan will test how GPs can safely prescribe such medicines and help the NHS provide support in the community or digitally, thereby reducing the burden on hospitals and helping patients find what is most convenient for them. It will contribute to the government’s broader goal of ensuring that people have access to the care they need in better places. .

“Obesity puts a lot of pressure on the NHS,” Sunak said.

“Using modern medicines to help people lose weight will be game-changing to help tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer.”

Health Secretary Steve Barclay pointed out the impact of obesity on the incidence of cancer and diabetes on the BBC Breakfast programme.

He added: “We recognize that losing and maintaining weight is often a major challenge for people. We are making sure that we are at the front of the queue,” he continued.

It is estimated that more than 12 million adults in the UK are obese.

And some high-street chemists plan to sell Wegobee to customers by prescribing and dispensing weekly jabs that they can inject themselves using pre-filled pen devices.

As with any drug, there may be side effects and risks.

The most common are nausea, upset stomach, bloating and gas.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, Medical Director of the NHS, said: “Medicines are offering new ways to help obese patients gain a healthier weight and this new pilot will show that these drugs are available only in hospitals. “It will help determine whether it can be used safely and effectively in non-hospital settings as well.” Various other interventions that we have in place. ”

He said NHS England was negotiating with manufacturers to secure long-term supply at a price that is valuable to taxpayers.