{"id":16171,"date":"2026-09-28T10:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T10:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk\/health-advice\/?p=16171"},"modified":"2026-09-28T10:08:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T10:08:38","slug":"mounjaro-available-nhs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk\/health-advice\/weight-loss\/mounjaro\/mounjaro-available-nhs\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Mounjaro Available on the NHS?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last Updated:<\/strong> 28 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Mounjaro available on the NHS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the NHS does prescribe Mounjaro<\/a>, though only to people who meet the current criteria.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In England, the NHS prescribes Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide, for two different reasons: weight management and type 2 diabetes. Each one has its own rules about who qualifies. Specialist weight management services could prescribe tirzepatide from March 2025. GP practices in England followed on 23 June 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recommendation from NICE does not mean every patient who qualifies can get Mounjaro from an NHS practice today; it can depend on Mounjaro\u2019s cost and access in your local area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NHS works through four separate steps before you can get a prescription:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. NICE<\/a>, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, recommends how the NHS in England should use tirzepatide. NICE also sets the clinical criteria across England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. NHS England<\/a> sets out how the rollout runs nationally. This includes the order in which groups become eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Local NHS organisations deliver the service in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. A clinician assesses whether the treatment suits you as an individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you get Mounjaro on the NHS for weight management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For weight management, NHS access in England currently covers two groups of people living with obesity.<\/strong> One group has a body mass index (BMI) of 35 to 39.9. The other has a BMI of 40 or above. A lower threshold applies to several ethnic backgrounds at every stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NHS widens access to Mounjaro in stages, rather than opening it to everyone at once. NHS England calls these stages cohorts. When a new cohort opens, GP practices can consider people who meet the eligibility criteria. NICE has given the NHS up to 12 years to reach everyone covered by the recommendation. The first three years prioritise those with the highest clinical need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cohort<\/strong><\/td>Open from<\/strong><\/td>BMI<\/strong><\/td>Qualifying conditions<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Cohort 1<\/td>23 June 2025<\/td>40 or above<\/td>At least 4 of the 5<\/td><\/tr>
Cohort 2<\/td>23 June 2026<\/td>35 to 39.9<\/td>At least 4 of the 5<\/td><\/tr>
Cohort 3<\/td>2027\/28 to 2028\/29<\/td>40 or above<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You currently need at least four of these five conditions to qualify for the weight management route. The five are: raised cholesterol or triglycerides, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you get Mounjaro on the NHS with a BMI under 35?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not usually through the weight management route, because the NICE recommendation starts at a BMI of 35 for most people. NICE sets the threshold 2.5 points lower for several ethnic backgrounds. Those patients qualify from a BMI of 32.5 and still need four of the five listed conditions. The type 2 diabetes route works differently and can allow a lower BMI in specific circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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