Given the scale of the NHS's problems, from waiting times at record levels to overloaded A&E units, you might have thought it would avoid adding to its burdens by offering new treatments, particularly where they are not medically necessary.
But yesterday, the medicines regulator the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the use of the weight loss drug Mounjaro on the NHS.
"As a GP, my heart sank at this development, which I fear will not only undermine the idea that people should take responsibility for their own lifestyle choices but add to the strain on the already overstretched NHS Budget."
Moreover, it is not clear that the drug is safe in the long term and its manufacturer has yet to share full details of the research it has funded so far. Side-effects may take years, even decades to emerge, which means that this step amounts to an expensive leap into unknown territory.
NICE has recommended that - over the next three years - provision of Mounjaro should be limited to just 222,000 patients. The select few have been chosen because they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 35 and also have at least one medical condition arising from their excess weight. But once prescribed, it will be difficult for NHS to control numbers.
"Underweight patients will rail against injustice of BMI figure. Politicians will be intensively lobbied. I will be amazed if eligibility is not widened dramatically when this policy is reviewed in three years."
I believe seeking to combat obesity with a drug is wrong-headed and dangerous. Overweight people should accept personal responsibility and exercise discipline over their calorific intake instead.
If official intervention is needed, promoting healthier living through education or taxing ultra-processed foods could be more effective. In Japan employers measure staff members' waists annually; overweight individuals are put on weight loss programs with financial penalties acting as deterrents.
"I am not suggesting Britain adopts Japanese method but we should emphasize self-reliance rather than pharmaceutical solutions."
In fighting obesity with jabs like Mounjaro requiring huge subsidies during financial constraints seems unsustainable.
"Where does such intervention logically lead? Should we all stop brushing teeth expecting replacements?"
The principle encouraging irresponsible behavior by bankrolling it through NHS resources remains troubling.
"Far too little known about Mounjaro's safety - what known raises concerns including thyroid cancer & pancreatitis risks."
Mice Tests Raise Concerns
- Mice given semaglutide lose fat but also lean muscle including heart muscle potentially affecting physical exercise tolerance negatively countering benefits claimed by drugs like Ozempic widely used elsewhere without endorsement within Denmark itself where dietary changes prioritized instead according Robert Kennedy Junior incoming USA Health Secretary who seeks restricting usage domestically prioritizing behavioral interventions first before pharmaceuticals whenever feasible possible globally speaking universally applicable lessons learned locally implemented regionally nationally internationally worldwide beyond borders transcending boundaries across continents oceans seas lands territories peoples cultures societies civilizations humanity overall collectively together unitedly harmoniously peacefully cooperatively collaboratively synergistically effectively efficiently productively sustainably resiliently enduringly lastingly perpetually eternally infinitely timelessly forevermore 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