NHS to expand access to weight loss jabs

The government partners with Lilly to widen access to anti-obesity drugs through UK pilots and NHS funding.

Thousands to get free weight-loss jabs on NHS in new deal

Thousands of Britons will gain access to weight loss injections through a new NHS deal with Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro. The package totals up to 85 million pounds, with Lilly contributing 35 million to pilot schemes that will let high street pharmacies prescribe anti-obesity medicines and expand access across the health service. The government will provide up to 50 million pounds to fund trials across the United Kingdom, with regions invited to bid for a slice of the funding. The pilots are planned to begin within months.

This move marks a shift in how obesity care is delivered in Britain. By tying public funds to a major pharmaceutical partner, the plan aims to move faster from policy to practice and test delivery at scale. It also raises questions about long-term costs, value for money, and how benefits will be shared across different regions and populations.

Highlights

The coming months will show how well the pilots translate policy into patient care.