NHS Should Offer Weight-Loss Jab Mounjaro to Millions More, MPs Demand

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 23, 2026

A cross-party group of MPs has called for the NHS to greatly expand access to the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, criticizing the current plan to reach only around 6% of eligible patients by 2027 as insufficient. They warn that limited availability risks driving patients to dangerous black market sources and argue that broader access could reduce obesity-related health costs that currently burden the NHS and UK economy.

A cross-party group of Members of Parliament has called for a significant expansion of access to the weight-loss drug Mounjaro through the National Health Service (NHS), warning that current plans are insufficient to address the scale of obesity in the UK.

Mounjaro, approved for NHS use in late 2024, is a medication shown to help patients lose approximately 20% of their body weight over 17 months. However, the current NHS rollout, set to provide the drug to around 200,000 patients by 2027, will cover only about 6% of those eligible. The phased introduction was designed to manage high demand and reduce pressure on general practitioners, but MPs say the target is too restrictive and risks leaving many patients underserved.

The Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) described the approach as "unambitious" and warned that the limited availability could push individuals toward black market sources, exposing them to potential harm. Additionally, some patients who seek treatment privately are reportedly spending up to £300 a month, often incurring significant personal debt.

Mounjaro is currently prescribed by GPs only to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher who also suffer from at least four severe weight-related health conditions. This restricts the treatment to a narrow subset of the population living with obesity. Another medication for weight loss, Wegovy, is available only through specialist clinics.

Obesity, defined as a BMI above 30, affects around two-thirds of adults in England. The condition imposes an economic burden exceeding £74 billion annually on the UK economy and costs the NHS more than £9 billion each year. Layla Moran, chair of the HSCC, emphasized that expanding access to effective treatments like Mounjaro could result in long-term savings for the NHS.

MPs are urging the government to urgently reassess its rollout strategy to ensure wider availability of Mounjaro, arguing that the current plan fails to meet the urgent health needs of millions who could benefit from the treatment.

Both NHS England and the Department of Health were approached for comment but have not yet responded.

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