GPs to Receive Bonuses for Prescribing Weight Loss Drugs

General practitioners (GPs) in England will receive financial bonuses for prescribing weight loss medications, starting in April, as part of a new initiative aimed at increasing access to these treatments. The scheme, announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will see practices receive up to £3,000 annually for maximizing eligible prescriptions of Mounjaro.

Financial Incentives for GPs

Under the new contract, GPs can earn a £3,000 bonus per year by prescribing Mounjaro to a high percentage of eligible patients. An additional £1,000 will be available for referring patients to weight loss programs. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated the goal is to ensure access to weight loss support is based on need, not ability to pay. Source

Eligibility Criteria and Rollout Plan

Currently, Mounjaro is available on the NHS to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 and coexisting health conditions such as high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, or type 2 diabetes. Source Next year, the eligibility will expand to include those with a BMI over 35. By 2028, the NHS aims to have 220,000 patients on Mounjaro. The eligibility thresholds are lower for certain ethnic groups.

Concerns and Limitations

Despite the incentives, experts caution that access to weight loss drugs will remain limited. Katharine Jenner, director of Obesity Health Alliance, emphasized that the scheme won’t automatically make these drugs available to everyone who wants them. Source Access will remain focused on those with the greatest clinical need, and the treatments are most effective when combined with sustained support.

Dr. Katie Bramall of the British Medical Association noted that the proposals won’t address the disparity between those who can afford private treatment and those who are left waiting. Source Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown of the Royal College of GPs added that GPs base prescribing decisions on clinical judgment, not financial incentives, and that increased workload could be unsustainable.

Wegovy and Private Market

The incentive payments specifically apply to Mounjaro. Wegovy, another new generation weight loss drug, is not prescribed by GPs but is administered through specialist NHS weight loss services. More than 1 million people in the UK are estimated to be using weight loss drugs, with the vast majority paying for them privately. Source

Addressing Rogue Prescribers

Health Secretary Wes Streeting also highlighted concerns about the private market, noting the proliferation of unlicensed drugs and “rogue prescribers” posing risks to patients. Source