A new weight-loss jab will be rolled out on the NHS in England – but it could take 12 years for everyone to receive it, the NHS drugs advisory body says.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) final draft guidance on Mounjaro has recommended it starts being given from March, alongside advice on diet and exercise.It will be offered to people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 and at least one obesity-related health problem – potentially 3.4 million people.But because of concerns it could overwhelm services, and in particular GPs, NICE has agreed to give the NHS more than a decade to introduce it – an unprecedented move for a medication.NICE chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Benger acknowledged it would mean “many people would have to wait”.But he said: “We’ve had to make this difficult decision in order to protect vital NHS services and also to test ways of delivering this new generation of weight-loss medications.”Patient groups have expressed disappointment at the decision to give the NHS so long.Only those patients under the care of specialist weight-management services will be offered it initially – matching the approach taken with a similar weight-loss drug, Wegovy.But from June, the NHS will start offering it to others.It is unclear exactly how this will be done – GP practices are likely to be in charge of referring patients, but questions remain over who will be providing the ongoing support involving diet an …
