Written question WQ99460

The current guidance and eligibility are set out in the Welsh Health Circular WHC/2025/043. This gives direction to Health Boards regarding the prescription of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and the eligibility criteria that has been expanded to cover a larger cohort of people, in line with guidance from the Society for Endocrinology.

The NHS in England currently prescribes weight loss medications to patients living with obesity who meet specific criteria. Detailed information about these medications can be found in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines [NG246].

Given the potentially very large eligible cohort and the variation between providers in the availability of the wrap-around infrastructure required to deliver its recommendations, NICE has extended the implementation period for tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity in adults, providing up to 12 years to implement the recommendations in full. NICE has also indicated that it will evaluate any relevant evidence generated during the initial guidance implementation period of up to 3 years and review the effectiveness of the initial approach adopted in England. NICE may then set a revised timeline for the second phase of the guidance implementation period. Welsh Ministers are not bound by the timelines issued by NICE but normally accept them, however in this case, due to the potentially large impact on the NHS, we are adopting a different approach as outlined in the WHC. We will consider extending eligibility to further cohorts in due course, and any decisions will be communicated to Members in the appropriate manner.