Pharmacies could be given the opportunity to provide weight loss treatments on the NHS under a new pilot initiative announced by the government.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) and other healthcare stakeholders across the NHS will be invited to submit bids to pilot ‘innovative models of care’ for people living with obesity, outside of existing specialist weight management services, such as within pharmacies.

In submitting their proposals, NHS organisations will be applying for a share of an £85m investment – supported by up to £50m from the UK Government and up to £35m from Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind weight loss medication tirzepatide (Mounjaro).

The government said the programme ‘could make it easier for people with obesity to access holistic care, including a range of wraparound services, and potentially obesity treatments, through new routes like pharmacies’.

Open to proposals from across the UK, the government said ‘tens of thousands’ of NHS patients living with obesity could get ‘cutting-edge help to improve their help’ and that access to these pilots could begin in the summer of 2026.

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Examples could include ‘a range of wraparound services, and potentially obesity treatments for those eligible, or support by digital tools’, the government said.

And central to the programme, which will be delivered together with Innovate UK, will be ‘finding new ways to deliver obesity care that are accessible to everyone who can benefit from them, regardless of their background’, it added.

Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle said: ‘New ways of accessing support to tackle obesity, such as through pharmacies or with help from digital tools, could be transformational for people’s quality of life, and for society – allowing individuals to more easily manage their weight and freeing them from ill-health that holds them back in daily life – while reducing the strain on our NHS.’

The move was first touted last month by the Prime Minister in his speech announcing the government’s 10-year plan for the health service.

Sir Keir Starmer championed a ‘stronger focus’ on what he described as ‘innovative weight loss services – available in pharmacies’.

Meanwhile, the 10-year plan itself pledged to ‘transition’ community pharmacy from a dispensing-focused service to offering more clinical services, including the treatment of obesity.

Health secretary Wes Streeting added: ‘Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill health, costing the NHS billions.

‘Yet, we now have the science, technology and knowledge to help tackle the obesity epidemic, if we seize this opportunity.

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‘As we shift our focus from treatment to prevention with our 10 Year Health Plan we are also determined to bring revolutionary modern care to everyone that needs it, not just those who can afford to pay.’

As of 23 June, patients can access tirzepatide (Mounjaro) through their GP practices, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

But pharmacy bodies have warned it was ‘unlikely’ that planned provision for weight loss jabs on the NHS will meet demand and therefore ‘many people’ will continue seeking the medication from a pharmacy privately.

Chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, Henry Gregg, said: ‘It's good news that the government want to expand NHS weight loss services into community pharmacies. This is something we have long called for.

‘This is a vital step forward in addressing one of the most pressing health challenges facing our country.’

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He stressed it was important that funding covered the ‘costs involved for pharmacies to provide wrap around care and support’.

‘Obesity is the single biggest health challenge facing our country, and if we are serious about tackling it, pharmacies must be empowered to play a central role in the solution,’ added Mr Gregg.

‘With the right funding, pharmacies can scale up delivery quickly – ensuring more people get the help they need, when and where they need it,’ he said.