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GP Incentives Fuel NHS Weight-Loss Jab Rollout
24 Feb
Summary
- GPs offered financial incentives to prescribe weight-loss jabs.
- £25 million allocated to encourage uptake of obesity medications.
- Majority of current users access weight-loss drugs privately.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is introducing financial incentives for General Practitioners (GPs) to boost the prescription of weight-loss jabs, aiming for a faster mass rollout. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that not all practices currently prescribe these medications, leading to uneven patient access across the country.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a £25 million package to encourage family doctors to prescribe these drugs and refer patients to specialized weight management services. This move is part of a broader public health strategy to address the significant economic and health burdens posed by obesity.
Currently, an estimated 2.4 million people in the UK use weight-loss drugs, with most obtaining them via private prescriptions. The NHS phased rollout of medications like Mounjaro prioritizes severely obese individuals with co-existing health conditions, but access remains a challenge even for eligible patients.
