Implementation support toolkit
Access to tirzepatide and other obesity management medications
The challenge
Tirzepatide, semaglutide and liraglutide are recommended for use within specialist obesity management services. Tirzepatide can also be prescribed in primary care.
All obesity management medications should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Many primary care services are currently not set up to provide this, and access varies across the country.
Specialist obesity management services are also expecting an increase in demand because of an increased awareness and availability of tirzepatide.
What support is available
NHS England has published its interim commissioning guidance on implementation of TA1026 and the NICE funding variation for tirzepatide which should be read alongside NICE guidance. It details eligible patient cohorts, prioritisation strategy and phased implementation of tirzepatide across specialist obesity management services and primary care settings.
Obesity management medications (including tirzepatide, semaglutide and liraglutide) should not be used in pregnancy. People should be given advice on contraception and planning pregnancy as per the advice in the summary of product characteristics (SPCs) for each product.
NICE's local formulary information on tirzepatide supports the process of adopting this medicine into local formularies by summarising information that local formulary decision-making groups are likely to need.
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