NHS or private: how do people pay for GLP-1s in the UK?
Who can get Mounjaro or Wegovy on the NHS, what a private prescription costs, and how moving from private to NHS care works. Every page cites NICE, the NHS or the Drug Tariff.
Insurance and public cover: articles and answers
-
Can I get Mounjaro on the NHS in 2026? The rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
England offers NHS Mounjaro in phases: BMI 35+ with 4 of 5 named conditions since June 2026. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ.
-
Can I switch from private to NHS Mounjaro?
Only if you meet NHS criteria when you switch: in England now BMI 35+ (32.5 for some groups) and 4 of 5 conditions. Private use gives no queue priority.
-
Can you get Wegovy on the NHS? Specialist services, the 2-year limit and the heart route
In England, NHS Wegovy for weight comes only from specialist services, for up to 2 years. Since May 2026 there is also a heart-disease route.
-
Can I get Mounjaro on the NHS?
Yes, for some adults, and the rules differ by nation. In England, from around June 2026, GPs can offer Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight to adults with…
Prices and paying yourself
-
How much do Mounjaro and Wegovy cost in the UK, on the NHS or privately?
NHS: £9.90 an item in England, free elsewhere. Private: Mounjaro list price £133–£330 a pen, Wegovy £73.25–£175.80 (2023). Why prices rose.
-
How much is Mounjaro in the UK?
The UK list price of a Mounjaro (tirzepatide) KwikPen is £133 to £330 before VAT, depending on strength. Each pen holds 4 weekly doses, and these…
-
How much is Saxenda in the UK?
Saxenda (liraglutide) has a UK list price of £196.20 for 5 pens of 18 mg, before VAT. At the full 3.0 mg daily dose, 5 pens last 30 days: about £198 a…
-
How much is Wegovy in the UK?
The latest official UK list price we found for a Wegovy (semaglutide) pen of 4 weekly doses is £73.25 for 0.25 to 1 mg, £124.53 for 1.7 mg and £175.80…
-
Why did Mounjaro's price go up?
Eli Lilly raised the UK list price of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) on 1 September 2025, from £92–£122 to £133–£330 a pen.
