EXCLUSIVE: Mounjaro has soared in popularity after it was approved for use in England with 147,000 prescriptions in May this year and one place is clearly ahead of the rest
The NHS was handing out Mounjaro jabs at the rate of nearly 200 an hour at its peak. The Daily Star Sunday can reveal how jab-happy Britain has become as prescriptions rocketed in the space of 12 months.
Antidiabetic drug Mounjaro, which is also popular for weight-loss treatment, has soared in popularity after it was approved for use in England.
Figures show prescriptions rose from 18,501 in May 2024 to over 147,000 in May this year, the latest month for which figures are available.
That is the equivalent of more than 197 jabs per hour. And the number could rise as the NHS could be set to dish out more Mounjaro prescriptions to more patients as private clinics prepare to double their prices from next month.
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Makers Eli Lilly revealed last week it would dramatically raise its pharmacy charges for the UK in September, prompting slimmers to scramble to stock up on the jab before price hikes set in, leading to current shortages.
The UK wholesale price for a month’s supply of the popular 5mg dose will double from £92 to £180 come September.
But a prescription with private pharmacy mark-ups – which typically costs buyers £150 to £200 – could now surge to more than £300.
The health service has a deal in place to roll out Mounjaro – also known as tirzepatide – at a cheaper price than private providers, with patients paying £9.90 for a prescription.
A letter from NHS officials said the NHS could continue treatment “for people that have previously accessed tirzepatide through a private provider” if they meet eligibility criteria when assessed by a weight management service.
Under current guidelines, patients must have a body mass index of 40 or more as well as four or more weight-related health issues – such as diabetes and high blood pressure – to be given the jab.
From next April, people with a BMI of 35 or more will also be able to get the jab on the NHS. The analysis also showed that parts of the country are prescribing the drug more than others – with Lincolnshire coming out on top.
In North Lincolnshire, the rate of prescriptions is three times higher than the average for the country as a whole. The NHS region covering North Lincolnshire issued 9,239 Mounjaro prescriptions up to and including May 2025.
It works out at 543 for every 10,000 people currently living there, which is the highest rate in the country. The national average is 190 per 10,000.
North East Lincolnshire has the next highest rate at 523 per 10,000 people. It was followed by East Leicestershire and Rutland, Wakefield then County Durham.
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