Tirzepatide
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment they have made of variations in access to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) across Integrated Care Boards; and what steps they are taking to ensure consistency in prescribing for eligible patients.
Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed
Tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are legally required to fund NICE-recommended medicines, including obesity treatments, within three months of final approval. NICE granted a phased rollout of tirzepatide for obesity to manage National Health Service resources and establish new care pathways. ICBs have been legally required to fund tirzepatide for obesity so that prescribers can offer the treatment to eligible patients in specialist weight management services since March 2025 and in primary care from 23 June 2025. NHS England is providing support for ICBs, including providing:
- additional funding to support the delivery of services within primary care and the cost of obesity medicines in line with interim commissioning guidance; and
- a centrally funded wraparound care service ‘Healthier You: Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing’ for primary care to refer patients to.
We do not hold information on whether each ICB provides access to specific medicines in its locality. ICBs are responsible for ensuring they meet their legal duties, including making funding for NICE-recommended medicines available.
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