A £40 million pilot scheme will be launched to increase access to the Wegovy weight-loss drug in the National Health Service (NHS), it has been announced.
The two-year pilot will explore ways to make obesity drugs easier to access, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said on Wednesday.
The scheme is part of the government’s attempt to tackle obesity, which is one of the leading causes of health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, and costs the NHS £6.5 billion a year.
Announcing the plan, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Obesity puts huge pressure on the NHS.
“Using the latest drugs to support people to lose weight will be a game-changer by helping to tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer—reducing pressure on hospitals, supporting people to live healthier and longer lives, and helping to deliver on my priority to cut NHS waiting lists.”…