House of Commons · Westminster Hall
30 January 2024 · 2 other contributors · 3,352 words
Opened by Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Responding minister: Andrew Stephenson
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Christine Jardine raised concerns about type 2 diabetes: availability of drugs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
I urge the government to ensure that the supply of drugs is prioritised for those who need them for important health reasons. I also ask Members to consider living with a condition like diabetes, which requires constant self-management, when patients face shortages and delays in obtaining necessary medications.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
I am concerned about the shortage of drugs for type 2 diabetes, including GLP-1 RAs like semaglutide. Currently, 4.6 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes and around 13.6 million are at risk. The supply problem is exacerbated by the fact that these drugs are also used for weight loss, making it difficult for patients to access them. Patients find themselves stuck between the Scottish Government's inability to act and a perceived slow response from the UK Government.
The hon. Lady should recognise the need not only for access to drugs but also medical equipment such as LibreView glucose monitoring sensors, which can improve lives and reduce future costs and harm. The MP asked for a commitment from the Minister to investigate glucose monitoring centres that could change people's lives in deprived areas and potentially save millions or billions of pounds for the NHS.
I am a type 2 diabetic and experienced the importance of weight loss in managing diabetes. I urge priority for certain diabetes treatments that can also aid weight loss to be given to those with type 2 diabetes before others who are using them for weight loss. The MP thanked the Minister for his response and suggested renewing a diabetes strategy that previously addressed the issue across the United Kingdom. He also sought clarification on an injectable treatment option mentioned by the Minister, which is not insulin.
Government Response
Andrew StephensonIt is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Pritchard. I thank the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) for raising such an important issue. There are around 1,400 medicines licensed in the UK, most of which are in good supply. Medicine supply issues affect more than 4.9 million people with diabetes across the UK, and action on diabetes will be included in the major conditions strategy as it is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. I acknowledge that health is largely devolved but am keen to collaborate where possible. The Department has issued guidance to healthcare professionals about managing patients during supply disruptions of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Steps have been taken, including expediting deliveries and boosting supplies. Mounjaro, an injectable medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes, was recently approved by the MHRA, and NICE has recommended it for eligible patients in England. However, supply issues are expected to continue due to off-label prescribing of Ozempic for weight loss ahead of Wegovy's launch. The NHS is now legally required to fund Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes patients meeting specific criteria under NICE guidelines. The Scottish Medicines Consortium has not yet published guidance on Mounjaro, which remains a devolved matter in Scotland.