MPs have urged the government and the NHS to widen access to the weight‑loss injection Mounjaro after finding that current rollout plans would see only 6% of eligible patients receive the drug by 2028. Lawmakers said the target is unambitious and risked limiting the public health benefit of new obesity medicines.
MPs argued that restricting provision to a small proportion of those eligible could leave many patients without access to treatments that have shown significant weight‑loss effects in clinical trials. The call adds to growing pressure on health authorities to set out clearer plans on how weight‑loss medications will be distributed within the publicly funded health service.
The implementation of a national programme will require decisions by ministers and NHS authorities on eligibility criteria, funding and prioritisation amid competing demands on resources. MPs said these decisions should be revisited to consider broader availability rather than a tightly limited early rollout.
Campaigners and clinicians have highlighted obesity as a major driver of ill health and rising demand on services; MPs said policymakers should weigh these wider implications when setting access targets. They urged a review of the planned timeframe and coverage to ensure the potential benefits of newer drugs are realised for a larger number of patients.
The debate over access to Mounjaro comes as health systems internationally grapple with how to incorporate recently developed weight‑loss medicines into routine care. UK ministers and NHS leaders have said they will consider clinical guidance and budgetary constraints as they finalise plans for prescribing and distribution, and MPs want a faster, broader approach than the current 6% target.