Patients with extra support were able to lose up to 15% of their total body weight on Wegovy Credit: vitapix/E+
Tens of thousands of additional people will benefit access to a new miracle cure for obesity after Rishi Sunak called for it to be made available outside of hospitals.
The Prime Minister launched a pilot study to see if the drug Wegovy can be prescribed by general practitioners, with many more benefits.
Earlier this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) decided, that people with obesity and heart disease should be able to get Wegovy. free on the NHS.
The drug has been proven to help obese adults lose more than 15% of their body weight when given along with diet, exercise and behavioral support.
But for now, NICE says the drug may only be available at specialized weight control centers at hospitals, which cover just 35,000 people. If it could be made available outside of hospitals, it could reach tens of thousands more people, Downing Street said.
So Mr Sunak commissioned a £40 million pilot project to test whether how medicines can be made available outside of hospitals, including by prescription from a general practitioner.
But there are problems with the supply of medicines. The company that makes Wegovy said unprecedented demand means large quantities may not be available for months.
The Prime Minister said: “Obesity is putting enormous pressure on the NHS.
“Using the latest drugs to help people lose weight will be a game-changer in helping fight dangerous obesity-related diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. people to live healthier and longer lives, and help meet my challenge of reducing NHS waiting lists.”
Earlier this year, NICE recommended the use of semaglutide (Wegovy brand) for adults with a body mass index of at least 35 and one weight-related disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Other drugs are currently undergoing clinical trials.
There is evidence from clinical trials that when given along with diet, physical activity, and behavioral support, people taking the drug for weight loss can lose up to 15 percent of their weight in a year. Taking them along with diet, physical activity, and behavioral support may help people lose weight within the first month of treatment.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, and costs the NHS £6.5 billion a year. In 2019/2020, there were over a million admissions to NHS hospitals attributed to obesity.
NICE advises that Wegovy should only be available through dedicated weight management services, which are primarily hospital-based. This would mean that only about 35,000 people would have access to Wegovy, while tens of thousands more could be eligible.
The £40 million pilot project will explore how legal medicines can be safely made available to more people by increasing the weight of the specialist. out-of-hospital management services.
This includes learning how GPs can safely prescribe these medications and how the NHS can provide support in the community or digitally, contributing to the government's broader drive to reduce the burden to hospitals and give people access to the care they need, where it is most convenient for them.
Obesity and cancer
Steve Barclay, Health Minister, said: “Obesity costs the NHS an estimated £6.5bn a year and is the second leading cause of cancer.
“That's next. Generations of anti-obesity drugs can help people lose significant weight when given along with exercise, diet, and behavioral support.
“Tackling obesity will help reduce the burden on the National Health Service and reduce waiting times, which is one of the government's five priorities, and this pilot project will help people live longer and healthier lives.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powys, National Health Service Medical Director, said: “Tackling obesity is a key part of the NHS's long-term plan – it could be devastating to the health of the nation, leading to serious illness and some common cancers, as well as significant pressure on NHS services.” /p>
“Pharmaceutical treatment offers a new way to help people with obesity gain a healthier weight, and this new pilot project will help determine whether these drugs can be safely and effectively used in the community, as well as a range of other interventions that we have Yes.
“NHS England is already working to implement NICE recommendations to make this new class of treatment available to patients through established dedicated weight management services, subject to negotiation of a reliable long-term supply. products at prices that represent value for money for taxpayers.”
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