Labour’s Health Secretary has urged the NHS to “get with the times” and accelerate the rollout of revolutionary weight loss drugs like Mounjaro, which could potentially save the health service billions.
Currently, around 3.4 million people in the UK are eligible for weight loss jabs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, but under the existing system, it might take up to 12 years to provide these drugs to all eligible patients, despite their potential to significantly reduce costs associated with treating obesity-related conditions.
Studies suggest that these weight-loss treatments can greatly reduce the risk of heart attacks, among other health benefits that scientists are investigating. With the potential for both financial savings and improved patient outcomes, Wes Streeting has insisted that the NHS “can and should go faster” in making these injections available.
The Sun reports that approximately 220,000 patients have received the jab through an NHS programme focusing on high-priority cases, yet many, including the Health Secretary, believe the progress isn’t fast enough.
As a result, numerous individuals in Britain are turning to private healthcare providers to obtain the medication, known generically as Tirzepatide and sanctioned by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence regulators, reports the Express.
It is estimated that last month alone, about 1.5 million people in the UK were treated with this medication, and there is a belief that many more could benefit from it.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has suggested that if weight loss injections were fully rolled out to 15 million individuals by 2050, it could save the Exchequer a staggering £52 billion – an amount akin to the annual Defence budget.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the medication as potentially revolutionary for public health, stating: “I want to see us put our foot down on the accelerator. We need to get with the times and make sure those who might not be able to afford these drugs are able to access them.”
He added: “I absolutely accept the challenge that the NHS can and should go faster and we’re looking at what we can do to speed things up.”
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