Weight-loss jab Wegovy to be offered on NHS in Scotland

Weight-loss jab Wegovy will be offered for free on the NHS to patients in Scotland at risk of heart attacks and strokes. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, as a treatment alongside diet and exercise for patients who are overweight and also have cardiovascular disease. It was approved for use on the NHS in England in April with a rollout expected in the summer. Around 145,000 Scottish patients will be eligible. The SMC said the drug could be prescribed to patients who had a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher or equal to 27 and who also had health issues that increased their risk of strokes and heart attacks. More than a quarter of all deaths in Scotland are a result of cardiovascular diseases, the second most common cause of death after cancer. The drug works as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that makes people feel fuller, which can help them lose weight. It also slows down how quickly food is digested. Some people may experience bloating, nausea or discomfort as a side effect. Patients can self-administer the drug at home using a special pen injector device. Last month, the head of the Royal College of Phys