Is Mounjaro Available on the NHS?

Over the past few years, weight loss injections have gone from strength to strength, and these treatments are now very popular.

Mounjaro pens are the newest option available. The medication has shown great success as a weight loss medication when prescribed privately.

Recently, the NHS has started offering Mounjaro for weight loss, with the hopes it will help people living with obesity.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injectable medicine used for weight management. Originally approved to treat diabetes, the UK’s medicines regulator approved its use for weight loss in 2024.

Mounjaro belongs to a group of drugs known as GLP-1 inhibitors or incretin mimetics. These drugs, which also include Saxenda and Wegovy, work by slowing down the emptying of the stomach, which helps to decrease appetite. In combination with a healthy diet and increased physical activity, this can help you lose weight.

Unlike Saxenda or Wegovy, Mounjaro works by also acting on the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors in your brain. This further reduces your appetite.

Mounjaro is a weekly injection given in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. It comes in a pen injector, so you can administer the medication at home yourself. When you start taking Mounjaro, you start on the lowest dose and increase it slowly over several weeks to reduce the risk of side effects.

Further information can be found in the Mounjaro Patient Information Leaflet.

Is Mounjaro Now Available on the NHS?

From 23 June, 2025, GP practices can prescribe Mounjaro to obese patients, as part of a phased rollout by NHS England.

However, to get the medication on the NHS via your GP, you’ll need to meet strict criteria. In this first phase of the rollout, you can only access the treatment if you have a BMI of 40 or above. It only applies to GPs in England.

If you do not meet the criteria, your GP may be able to refer you to your local specialist weight management service (SWMS).

Can I Get Mounjaro on the NHS in the Rest of the UK?

Scotland

In Scotland, Mounjaro has been approved for “restricted use in the NHS for weight management.”

However, the BBC recently reported that most health boards are not currently prescribing Mounjaro for weight loss. This means few patients in Scotland can get the drugs on the NHS.

Wales

You can get Mounjaro on the NHS in Wales through specialist weight management services. You can’t get Mounjaro from your GP in Wales.

The Welsh government says “work is currently being undertaken to determine if and how tirzepatide…will be made available in the NHS in Wales.”

Northern Ireland

You cannot currently get Mounjaro injections in the NHS in Northern Ireland.

However, the country’s health minister Mike Nesbitt recently approved plans for a new regional obesity management service. The service, due to start in early 2026, will “support access to weight loss medication in line with NICE guidance.”

Do I Qualify for Mounjaro on the NHS?

To be eligible for Mounjaro through your GP, patients must have:

• A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. Patients from a minority ethnic background may qualify with a lower BMI (37.5)
• 4 out of 5 of the following weight-related conditions:
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • High blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • High level of abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia)

The current guidance indicates that the criteria will change over the next few years. The next change will be a reduction of the BMI threshold from 40 to 35. After that, patients with 3 conditions and a BMI of over 40 will be eligible.

How Can You Get Mounjaro on the NHS?

To get Mounjaro through the NHS, you’ll first need to speak to your GP. If they are not able to prescribe the medication, they can refer you to the specialist weight management service available in your area.

Your GP or clinician may not prescribe the medication, even if you meet the criteria. Their decision will also depend on risk factors and how much the medication may help you.

How Much Does Mounjaro Cost on the NHS?

On the NHS, Mounjaro weight loss pens will follow the current prescription charge for each pen. In England, the prescription charge is £9.90. This will cover you for a month of treatment.

Alternative Weight Loss Treatment on the NHS

Saxenda and Wegovy are also both GLP-1 medications available on the NHS for people losing weight.

Due to the expense of the treatment, they are currently only offered through specialist weight management services. This means that you will have had to try various other weight loss methods, including diet and exercising, before you will be allowed to try these drugs.

These drugs are only approved for use in certain patient groups. Wegovy and Saxenda are intended for use by people with a BMI of 30 or above. Or by patients with a BMI of 27 or above, if they also have a weight-related medical condition like high blood pressure. You can check your BMI with an online calculator.

If your BMI is high enough, and you want to try Saxenda or Wegovy on the NHS, speak to your GP. They can start to refer you to the various weight management services available in your area. Your GP cannot prescribe you these medications. It may take some time before you’re able to receive these medications from the appropriate service.

Private Alternatives to NHS Treatment

Private services provide many of the same services as the NHS. However, they are not as restricted by limited resources. This means that it can be easier to access weight loss medications, psychologist appointments and surgeries through private providers.

At Simple Online Pharmacy, we can prescribe you Mounjaro if you have a BMI of over 30. Or if you have a BMI over 27 and other risk factors like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea and high blood pressure.

To access the treatment, you’ll need to complete an online assessment. The form will be reviewed by our clinicians, who will assess whether the treatment is appropriate for you. If suitable, it will be prescribed and dispatched, direct to your door.

We also offer Saxenda, Wegovy and Orlistat. Orlistat is a tablet, whereas Saxenda is a daily injection, and Wegovy is weekly like Mounjaro. A prescription for any of these may be dependent on your BMI and other factors.

If you are interested in any of these treatments, visit our weight loss injections page.

Key Takeaways

• Limited NHS Access in England (For Now): As of June 2025, GPs in England can prescribe Mounjaro under phased rollout plans. You can also get Mounjaro through specialist weight management services on the NHS.

• Strict Eligibility Criteria: To qualify, you currently need a BMI of 40+ (or 37.5+ for certain ethnic groups) and at least 4 out of 5 weight-related health conditions.

• NHS Access Varies Across the UK: Scotland and Wales offer Mounjaro through specialist services, but most GPs can’t prescribe it. Patients in Northern Ireland won’t have access to Mounjaro until at least early 2026.
  
• Wegovy and Saxenda Also Available: You can access other GLP-1 treatments via specialist NHS services. You can’t get these from your GP. A clinician will typically offer you these only after you’ve tried losing weight in other ways.

• Private Access Is Simpler: Clinics, like Simple Online Pharmacy, can prescribe Mounjaro to people with a BMI of 30+ (or 27+ if other risk factors apply). This is without the NHS waiting lists.

References

Fruh, S.M. (2017). Obesity: Risk factors, complications, and Strategies for Sustainable long-term Weight Management. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, [online] 29(1), pp.S3–S14. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12510

GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP RA consensus statement for phased implementation/September2024 Consensus statement (n.d.). Available at: https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dcconsensus-statement.pdf

GOV.WALES. (2025). Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for the management of obesity and overweight (WHC/2025/018) [HTML] | GOV.WALES. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.wales/tirzepatide-mounjaror-management-obesity-and-overweight-whc2025018-html  [Accessed 7 Jul. 2025]

Department of Health. (2025). NI to get its first Obesity Management Service. [online] Available at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/ni-get-its-first-obesity-management-service

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