Can you get Mounjaro on the NHS? What’s changing in 2026

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a weekly injectable treatment licensed in the UK for weight management. Many people living with obesity want to know whether this medicine is available on the NHS. The short answer is yes — but access is currently limited.

At the moment, you can get Mounjaro through specialist weight loss clinics or, in some cases, from your GP. However, it’s only prescribed to people who meet strict eligibility criteria and live in areas where local services are already providing treatment.

This guide explains who may be eligible for Mounjaro on the NHS right now, how the rollout is happening, and what access may look like over the coming years.

Who is eligible for Mounjaro on the NHS at the moment?

NHS Mounjaro eligibility in 2026 is currently limited to people with severe obesity and weight-related health conditions. However, the exact criteria depend on whether treatment is prescribed through primary care (your GP) or specialist weight management services.

Eligibility through your GP

In primary care settings, Mounjaro is currently limited to the highest-priority group of patients with (1):

• A BMI of 40 or above (or 37.5 or above for some ethnic backgrounds)

• Four or more of the following weight-related health conditions:

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • High blood pressure

  • Heart disease

  • Abnormal cholesterol levels

  • Obstructive sleep apnoea

Eligibility through weight management services

Specialist weight management clinics can prescribe Mounjaro to a wider group of patients who meet the full NICE eligibility criteria of (1):

• A BMI of 35 or above (or lower for some ethnic groups)

• At least one weight-related health condition, from those listed above.

However, you’ll typically need a referral from your GP to see a specialist. In many areas, waiting times can also be extremely long, with some patients reporting waits of two years (2).

If you’re unsure of your BMI (body mass index), the NHS has a free calculator you can use.

When was Mounjaro made available on the NHS?

Here’s a look at the timeline so far:

• December 2024: Mounjaro was approved for treating weight management on the NHS in England following guidance published by NICE (3).

• March 2025: Access to Mounjaro via the NHS began through specialist weight management services within specific parts of the UK.

• June 2025: GPs began prescribing Mounjaro, but only to a small group of patients with severe obesity and multiple health conditions related to their weight (3-4).

The rollout will continue gradually. The NHS aims to reach 220,000 high-risk patients within the first three years, with access continuing to expand to include a wider group of patients across more regions over time (5). It could take up to 12 years for Mounjaro to become available to everyone.

How is Mounjaro being rolled out across the NHS?

Mounjaro is being introduced to primary care settings slowly. The first three years focus on giving those most at risk of health complications linked to obesity access, with eligibility gradually widening.

Below is how GP prescribing criteria are expected to shift during the first three years (1):

*For people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds, the qualifying BMIs are lower (e.g., 37.5 instead of 40).

These criteria apply specifically to getting Mounjaro from your GP. Specialist weight management clinics may offer treatment earlier for people who meet the broader NICE eligibility.

Beyond the first three years, Mounjaro will become available to more people. But we don’t yet know exactly what this later-stage rollout will look like. NICE will review the initial three years and decide whether the 12 year plan needs adjusting and what people will get access to Mounjaro next (1,5).

Is Mounjaro available everywhere in the UK yet?

No, Mounjaro isn’t yet available everywhere on the NHS. As of January 2026, around 1 in 5 regions in England did not have access to the medicine on the NHS (6). This means some people who qualify may not be able to get the medicine, depending on where they live.

Local rollout speed depends on:

• Staffing capacity – Healthcare professionals need training and support before new prescribing pathways for Mounjaro can safely be introduced.

• Funding decisions by Integrated Care Boards – Local NHS Trusts are responsible for deciding when they are ready to start offering treatment. As well as formulary, cost availability and eligibility criteria.

• Availability of support – Mounjaro must be prescribed alongside support programmes that help with diet, exercise, and behavioural change, which aren’t available everywhere yet.

Because of these differences, access can vary by location. You can check with your local Integrated Care Board to see the current status in your area.

Why can’t everyone get Mounjaro yet?

We understand that it can feel frustrating if you meet the criteria for weight loss injections but treatment isn’t yet available where you live. But the phased rollout is designed to make sure the medicine is introduced safely, fairly, and with the right support in place.

There are four main reasons for this approach (7):

• It helps balance the cost of new services. Treating all eligible patients at once would cost the NHS an estimated £15 billion over five years (8). This would put significant strain on other areas. Expanding access slowly helps spread and manage these costs.

• It supports safe prescribing. There aren’t currently enough GPs trained in weight management for Mounjaro to be safely offered in primary care settings. The NHS needs time for additional training to ensure safe prescribing.

• It helps people get more from their treatment. Mounjaro works best alongside lifestyle support such as nutrition, exercise, and behaviour change programmes (9). A gradual rollout helps ensure these services are available locally to prescribe alongside the medicine.

• It reduces the risk of unequal access. If treatment were introduced everywhere at once, availability could vary widely depending on local resources. A phased rollout helps create more consistent access across the country over time.

Because of this staged approach, meeting the eligibility criteria for Mounjaro does not always mean immediate access to treatment. Access is expected to increase as local services continue to develop over the coming years.

What if I can’t get Mounjaro on the NHS right now?

If you don’t meet NHS Mounjaro eligibility criteria in 2026, treatment isn’t available in your local area yet, or you don’t want to deal with long wait times, you may still be able to get Mounjaro privately.

Private prescribing follows clinical safety guidance, but it isn’t restricted by NHS rollout timelines or eligibility criteria. This can make access quicker for people who:

• Do not meet NHS BMI thresholds

• Do not have multiple related health conditions

• Are waiting for local services to begin offering treatment

• Are on the NHS waiting list for Mounjaro

For private prescribing, treatment is typically available if you have:

• a BMI of 30 or above, or

• a BMI of 27 or above with a weight-related health condition

If you’re considering starting Mounjaro or another GLP-1 medicine, an online consultation can help determine whether treatment is appropriate for you.

What should you do next?

If you’re interested in Mounjaro through the NHS, the first step is checking whether you meet the current eligibility criteria and whether treatment is available locally. You can start by calculating your BMI using the NHS calculator and discussing your options with your GP.

If NHS treatment isn’t available yet, private care may still offer a route to treatment while rollout continues across the UK. Our independent doctors at Oxford Online Pharmacy can assess your suitability through a confidential weight loss consultation and, if eligible, safely prescribe Mounjaro weight loss injections online.

Start your weight loss consultation or visit our weight loss hub for more guidance.

References

1. NICE. Recommendations | Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity | Guidance [Internet]. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NICE; 2024.

2. Healthwatch. People struggle to access weight loss drugs on the NHS [Internet]. Healthwatch.co.uk. 2026.

3. NHS Digital. Prescribing activity of Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in primary care settings for the purpose of weight management. NHS England; 2025.

4. NHS England. Interim commissioning guidance. Implementation of the NICE Technology Appraisal TA1026 and the NICE funding variation for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for the management of obesity. [Internet]. NHS. 2025.

5. NICE. NICE describes how weight loss drug tirzepatide will be rolled out [Internet]. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NICE; 2024.

6. Mahase E. Mounjaro: Experts issue warning over black market jabs, with fifth of areas still lacking NHS access. BMJ [Internet]. 2026 Jan 9;392:s48.

7. NICE. Implementation | Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity | Guidance [Internet]. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NICE; 2024.

8. Balogun B. Weight Loss Medicines in England [Internet]. 2025 Apr.

9. NHS England. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) in primary care for weight management: information on wraparound care [Internet]. NHS; 2026.