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Can you get Mounjaro or Wegovy on the NHS?

For some people, yes. But NHS access is limited and phased, and it works differently in each UK nation. Here is who qualifies now, and what to do if you do not yet.

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The short version

  • Yes for some people, but access is phased and the criteria are strict.
  • In England it reaches GPs in stages, starting with the highest BMI and the most conditions.
  • Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run their own, mostly through specialist services.
  • Most people buying privately do so because they do not yet qualify. The NHS checker shows which route the rules point to for you.

The short answer

NICE recommends Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for people with a BMI of 35 or more and at least one weight-related condition, with the threshold set 2.5 lower for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African Caribbean backgrounds. Because that is millions of people, the NHS in England is introducing it through GPs in phases over several years, starting with those at highest risk. Specialist NHS weight management services can also prescribe it, and can prescribe Wegovy (semaglutide), by referral.

England: the GP rollout

The rollout starts with the people who have the highest BMI and the most weight-related conditions, and opens up to wider groups over time. Each group stays eligible once it opens, but how it is delivered depends on your local NHS area, and not every practice offers it yet. Rather than repeat the thresholds here, where they change as the phases move, use the NHS checker: enter your height, weight and any diagnosed conditions and it shows which group the rules point to, when it opens, and whether a specialist referral or the private route applies.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • Scotland: approved from a BMI of 30 with a weight-related condition, but each health board decides. Boards that offer it are starting with a BMI of 38 or more and a condition, through weight management services. Fewer than half offer it so far, and some are not taking referrals.
  • Wales: specialist weight management services only; GPs cannot start it. For now it is mainly for people with a BMI of 35 or more and a condition who need to lose weight for something time sensitive, such as surgery or fertility treatment.
  • Northern Ireland: a regional obesity service is rolling out from autumn 2026 for adults with a BMI over 45 and a listed condition. Ask your GP whether it has started in your area.

What it costs on the NHS

If you are eligible, the NHS covers the medicine and you pay only the standard prescription charge, currently £9.90 an item in England, and nothing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For the private cost if you do not qualify, see how much Mounjaro and Wegovy cost.

If you do not qualify yet

Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed from a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight-related condition, so a private prescription is an option within those limits. Use a provider that assesses you properly and is on the register.

Common questions

Can I get Mounjaro from my GP?
In England, only if you are in one of the groups currently being offered it, and even then it depends on your local NHS area and not every practice offers it yet. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, GPs do not routinely start it for weight loss; it goes through weight management services.
What counts as a weight-related condition?
For England's GP rollout, five conditions count: type 2 diabetes; high blood pressure you take medication for; heart or circulation disease; sleep apnoea confirmed by a study with CPAP recommended; and high cholesterol or blood fats. Specialist services and private prescribers also recognise others, such as prediabetes.
I am already paying privately. Can I switch to the NHS?
There is no national rule for people who started privately, and areas handle it differently, including which BMI they use if you have already lost weight. Ask your GP, and keep a record of your starting weight and your prescriptions.
What if I am not eligible on the NHS?
Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed from a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight-related condition, so a private prescription is an option within those limits. Use a registered provider that assesses you properly, and be wary of anyone willing to prescribe below the licence.

Sources

This explains NHS eligibility in general terms as of 2 November 2026. Local timing and delivery vary, and your GP or local NHS service has the final word. It is not medical advice.