The Labor Party wants to give millions of obese, unemployed Britons free fat-burning injections used by celebrities in a desperate attempt to get off the couch and “get back to work”.
Wes Streeting's Health Secretary plans to offer unemployed Britons free injections of the controversial “miracle” weight loss drug Ozempic.
Comes as Sir Keir Starmer today backed the idea, saying it could help ease demands on the NHS and boost the economy.
The news comes despite dire warnings from some. This year, 3,000 Britons have fallen ill after taking the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.
In defense of drugs, the Prime Minister told the BBC: “I think these drugs could be very important for our economy and health.”
He added: “This medicine will be very helpful for people who want to lose weight, need to lose weight, which is very important for the economy so that people can get back to work.”
“This is very important for the NHS because, as I have said many times, yes we need more money for our NHS, but we need to think differently.
“We need to reduce the pressure on the NHS. This will help in all of these areas.”
Anti-obesity shots will be trialled and made in the UK as part of Government plans to support NHS supplies and tackle the country's waistline problem
Wes Streeting (pictured) believes the latest generation of weight loss drugs could have a “monumental” impact on obesity in the UK
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A data source backed by NHS OpenPrescribing shows increasing prescriptions for semaglutide, a drug used in Ozempic and Wegovy
The Health Secretary believes the latest generation of weight loss drugs could have a “monumental” impact on tackling obesity in the UK and reduce the financial burden on the UK's NHS and economy.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the minister said Ozempic or Mounjaro shots could play a major role in boosting productivity, with weight-related diseases costing the economy £74 billion a year.
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology will work with industry to identify how vaccinations can reduce demand for health care and get people back to work.
The release comes as doctors prepare for a mass rollout of weight loss vaccines on the NHS, and follows widespread reports of global shortages.
Streeting wrote: “Our widening bars are also placing a significant burden on our health service, costing the NHS £11 billion a year – that's even more than smoking. And it's holding our economy back.
“Obesity-related illnesses cause people to take an average of four extra sick days a year, and many others are forced to give up work altogether.”
On Monday, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which produces the weight loss drug Mounjaro, signed a memorandum of understanding with the government under which they will cooperate to improve care for people suffering from obesity.
The deal, announced at the London International Investment Summit, will include testing and development of new weight loss vaccines and smartphone applications, as well as efforts to establish a manufacturing base in the UK.
The five-year study will also see Eli Lilly working with the University of Manchester assess Mounjaro's real-world effectiveness.
Specifically, the drug's long-term effects on obesity, the incidence of diabetes and weight-related complications, as well as its impact on employment, sick days and quality of life will be quantified.
The evidence generated will help inform how the NHS treats obesity, the government said.
Tirzepatid, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, is very effective, but there may also be some significant side effects
Previous research has shown that Mounjaro, referred to as the “King Kong” of fat-burning injections, can help people lose up to 26 percent of their body weight in a year and a half.
Two in three Britons are overweight or obese, and NHS figures show that more than 30 years ago people now weighed around a stone.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the Daily Mail: “This is the start of a partnership that aims to put the UK in a leading position as a global testbed for developing and testing anti-obesity drugs – a huge market that could grow five-fold globally by 2030.
“It sets the stage for patient research in the UK to better understand the long-term health and economic benefits of these drugs, and also anticipates that Eli Lilly will establish its first biotech center in Europe on these shores – I hope future talks will lead to drugs for obesity, which will come off production lines in the UK in the near future.
“The economic benefits of working with a company like this are obvious, but they become even more profound when you look deeper into them.
“On behalf of the NHS, which has to pay over £11 billion a year for obesity-related diseases.
“And for people who cannot fully participate in work due to weight-related health issues.
“And for our society as a whole – currently burdened by £74 billion in obesity-related costs from a combination of health problems and lost productivity.”
The five-year study will also see Eli Lilly working with the University of Manchester assess Mounjaro's real-world effectiveness
US deaths related to semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatid, found in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Yellow refers to 2024 because the data is incomplete
Eli Lilly expects to make an additional £279 million of investments in the UK, bringing Lilly's expected total investment into the UK to £435 million.
The company said: “The UK Government and Lilly will work together to explore future investment opportunities in the UK, which may include potential investment in manufacturing facilities or partnerships with UK venture capital funds and academic institutions.”
David A. Ricks, chairman and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly, added: “We are excited to partner with the UK government to fight and prevent disease and accelerate innovation to improve care delivery models.
“Today's announcement is an important milestone, and we are pleased to reinforce Lilly's commitment to improving the health of people living with obesity and its serious consequences.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Partnerships like these are key to building a healthier society, a healthier economy and preparing the NHS for the future.”
Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking and costs the NHS £11.4 billion a year.
The NHS is preparing a mass rollout of weight loss vaccines to 1.6 million patients.
The government announced last month that they would first target the sickest and sickest people.
Initial guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends Mounjaro shots for people with a BMI of at least 35 and weight-related health problems.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: “Obesity is one of the biggest public health issues we face and we know that weight loss drugs will be a game-changer, alongside previous preventive strategies, in supporting many more people to lose weight.” reduce the risk of killer diseases such as diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
“Today's momentous agreement shows that the NHS is exceptionally well positioned globally, not only to deliver effective new treatments to those who would benefit most, but also to support learning, research, jobs and economic growth across the country .
“We now have an important opportunity to better understand the benefits of weight management interventions for patients and how best to use them over the next few years.”
