UK government launches pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs
The UK government has launched a £40m pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs and cut NHS waiting lists. The scheme will explore how approved drugs can be made available to more people by expanding specialist weight management services outside hospitals. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended weight loss drug Semaglutide (Wegovy) earlier this year but advised that it should only be available via specialist weight management services, which are largely hospital-based. The government aims to reduce growing obesity rates in the UK and tackle the £6.5bn cost to the NHS of obesity by making it easier to access weight-loss treatments through GPs.