Can I get Mounjaro on the NHS?

How NHS access works in England

NICE approved Mounjaro for people with a BMI of 35 or more and at least one weight-related condition. Because that’s millions of people, the NHS is rolling it out through GPs in phases over several years, starting with the people at highest risk. Each group stays eligible once it opens.

BMI thresholds are 2.5 lower for South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds. Treatment comes with required diet and behaviour support. Specialist weight services work to NICE’s wider criteria and can also prescribe Wegovy, for up to two years.

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 BMI 38+ and a condition; fewer than half do so far, and some aren’t taking referrals.
• Wales: specialist weight-management services only; GPs can’t start it. For now, mainly for people with a BMI of 35+ and a condition who need to lose weight for something time-sensitive, like surgery or fertility treatment.
• Northern Ireland: a new regional obesity service is due to roll 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.

Common questions

Can I get Mounjaro on the NHS?

In England, yes for some people. The NHS is bringing Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to GPs in phases, starting with people who have the highest BMI and the most weight-related conditions. Right now that’s a BMI of 35 or more with at least four of five listed conditions, where your area has started that group. A BMI of 40 or more with three conditions follows from around March 2027. Specialist NHS weight services can also prescribe it from a BMI of 35 with one condition, by referral.

Can I get Mounjaro from my GP?

In England, if you’re in one of the groups currently being offered it. Even then, how it’s delivered depends on your local NHS area, and not every practice offers it yet. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, GPs don’t 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 specific conditions count: type 2 diabetes; high blood pressure that you take medication for; heart or circulation disease (heart attack, angina, stroke, peripheral arterial disease or heart failure); sleep apnoea confirmed by a sleep study with CPAP recommended; and high cholesterol or blood fats (on a statin or flagged in a blood test). Specialist services and private prescribers also count other weight-related conditions, such as prediabetes.

Why is the BMI threshold lower for some ethnic backgrounds?

Health risks like type 2 diabetes start at a lower BMI for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds. So NICE lowers the BMI thresholds by 2.5 (for example 37.5 instead of 40).

Can I get Mounjaro on the NHS in Scotland?

It’s approved in Scotland from a BMI of 30 with a weight-related condition, but each health board decides access. Boards that offer it are starting with people who have a BMI of 38 or more and a related condition, through their weight-management services. Fewer than half offer it so far, and some aren’t taking referrals.

I’m already paying privately. Can I switch to the NHS?

There’s no national rule for people who started privately, and areas handle it differently, including which BMI they go by if you’ve already lost weight. Ask your GP, and keep a record of your starting weight and your prescriptions.

What if I’m not eligible on the NHS?

Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed from a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight-related condition (these licence limits aren’t adjusted for ethnicity), so a private prescription is an option within them. Use a registered provider that assesses you properly, and be wary of anyone willing to prescribe below the licence.