Who can get new weight-loss jab Mounjaro on the NHS?

Emma Clarke
·Contributor
Updated ·4 min read
Semaglutide injection pen or cartridge pen for diabetics and weight loss in female hand. Medical equipment for diabetes patients
Weight-loss jab Mounjaro will be available on the NHS soon (Getty Images)

Earlier this year, the Labour government announced plans to roll out weight-loss jab Mounjaro on the NHS, to help combat obesity levels in Britain and get unemployed people back to work.

Although the initial outline indicated that the drug could be offered to as many as 3.4 million eligible patients, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now called for a more gradual release, to prevent overwhelming the NHS. This means that only 220,000 (or 10%) of those eligible will be offered the medication in the first instance.

Described as the “King Kong” of weight-loss drugs, Mounjaro – or tirzepatide – is an increasingly popular treatment that, while primarily designed to treat those with type 2 diabetes, has been licensed in the UK to treat obesity since November last year.

Here, we take a look at what Mounjaro is and how it’s different to other weight-loss medication – and who is deemed eligible for the NHS scheme.

Mounjaro manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company packaging is seen in this illustration photo taken in a pharmacy in Krakow, Poland on April 9, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, Mounjaro is licensed in the UK to not only treat type 2 diabetes, but also obesity (Getty Images)

NICE recommends the medicine for those who are:

  • Over 18

  • With a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35

  • And have at least one weight-related illness (such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes)

As this accounts for around 3.4 million people in England, its latest guidance is that roll out of the medication on the NHS takes place over a 12-year period.

This comes as experts, including Dr Dolly van Tulleken, an obesity policy specialist, raised concerns over the "ethical, financial and efficacy" of a quick turnaround. Speaking on BBC Radio 4 in October, she said it posed risks "such as looking at people, or measuring people based on their potential economic value, rather than primarily based on their needs and their health needs."

She went on: "It’s incredibly important that people in the UK access healthcare based on their health needs rather than their potential economic value."

Dr van Tulleken also pointed out that weight management services currently only process 49,000 cases per year – so it would be highly unlikely for the NHS to treat all "eligible" patients quickly when they are in their millions.

As per the NICE guidelines, the NHS will prioritise people already receiving care in specialist weight management services. Patients who fall under this category will be able to access Mounjaro within 90 days, if found to be clinically eligible.

The NHS and health secretary Wes Streeting will then publish a detailed report outlining the different groups of eligible patients, and when they will be offered treatment, in the next three years.

Glucose is the body’s main energy source, but when blood sugar levels rise, it triggers the release of insulin. This in turn affects the body’s metabolism and can cause weight gain.

By activating the GLP-1 and GIP receptors to increase the level of hormones in the body, Mounjaro (a brand name for tirzepatide) promotes insulin production when needed and reduces blood sugar levels, slowing down how quickly food is digested.

Additionally, by making patients feel fuller for longer through the GIP hormone and curbing their appetite, it is not only useful for treating those with type 2 diabetes, but has also been found to help with weight loss.

  • Nausea and sickness

  • Indigestion and heartburn

  • Constipation

  • Diarrhoea

  • Headaches

  • Injection site reactions

  • Gallstones (in rare instances)

  • Weight loss

  • Muscle mass reduction

  • Insulin resistance

  • Slower metabolism

Unlike semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, Mounjaro not only mimics the GLP-1 hormone, but also the GIP (or gastric inhibitory polypeptide). By targeting both hormones, studies suggest Mounjaro to be more effective when it comes to weight loss.

As such, experts have suggested that for the purposes of weight loss, tirzepatide also provides greater value for money.

While Wegovy has been available on the NHS since late last year for weight loss, Ozempic is currently only available on the NHS for treating diabetes. In both instances, there are strict criteria to meet.

Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic injections are all available on private prescription, also, but only the first two drugs are available for weight loss purposes.

Via private prescription, prices for Wegovy (0.25mg) start from around £130 a month. Higher prices are associated with higher dosages. Similarly, Mounjaro costs around £130 per month for the lowest dose, which is 2.5mg.

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