New data obtained by the BBC reveals limited access to weight loss medications on Scotland’s National Health Service. According to freedom of information requests sent to health boards across the country, only six of Scotland’s health boards currently offer Mounjaro and Wegovy specifically for weight loss treatment, and only through small pilot programs. The total number of patients who had received these injections through the NHS by September 2026 stood at 705, while an estimated 300,000 people are accessing the drugs through private channels.
Modicare has been approved for use in Scotland since 2023, with Wegovy approved in 2024. These GLP-1 receptor agonist medications work by suppressing appetite and are part of a larger class of drugs that have been used for type 2 diabetes treatment for several years. However, they are not suitable for all patients and may produce side effects. The treatments require careful monitoring and support, typically involving regular appointments with pharmacists and dieticians.
Physicians and medical leaders have characterized the current situation as problematic, with some describing it as discriminatory against patients with obesity. Dr Mark Strachan, president of the Royal College of Physicians, stated that the lack of meaningful progress represents an opportunity cost, as the NHS spends substantial resources treating obesity-related complications rather than investing in preventive interventions. He noted that the drugs have been demonstrated to be safe and cost-effective when administered in targeted ways to high-risk patients.
The Scottish government has indicated that responsibility for medication availability decisions rests with individual health boards. Access to these medications across the UK remains governed by strict eligibility criteria. Pilot programs, such as the one operating in NHS Forth Valley, typically require participants to have a BMI of 40 or above and be living with multiple serious medical conditions or facing medically necessary surgeries. One pilot patient reported losing four stone since beginning treatment, along with improvements in overall health.
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