The criteria a GP uses to prescribe Mounjaro — and what that means for you

The myth worth clearing up first: Mounjaro is not simply handed over at a certain BMI

A lot of people come to this question believing that hitting a particular BMI automatically unlocks a Mounjaro prescription from their GP. That's understandable, the coverage has often reduced it to a number. In practice, BMI is a starting filter, not a finishing line. A prescriber also weighs your medical history, current medications, kidney and liver function, any history of pancreatitis or thyroid conditions, and whether the medicine is appropriate given your broader health. Someone at BMI 32 with well-controlled hypertension and no contraindications may be a strong candidate; someone at BMI 38 with a history that raises specific safety concerns may not. The number opens the door; the consultation decides whether to walk through it.

This is why whether a GP can prescribe Mounjaro is a question with a longer answer than it looks, and why clinical assessment matters more than any headline figure.

What the licensed criteria actually say

The Mounjaro SmPC (the official prescribing document) licences tirzepatide for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related comorbidity. Qualifying conditions include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia (raised cholesterol or triglycerides), obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease. NICE's appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026) adds a further layer for NHS prescribing: it recommends Mounjaro only for adults with a BMI of 35 or above and at least one weight-related comorbidity, phased by the number of conditions present. The ethnic-background adjustment (reducing thresholds by 2.5 kg/m² for people of South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean heritage) applies throughout.

Private prescribing follows the licensed indication rather than the NICE NHS-access rules, which is why the BMI floor can be lower on the private route. Either way, the prescriber's clinical assessment governs the outcome. You can read more about how those two routes compare on the Mounjaro NHS criteria page.

What NHS GP prescribing looks like in practice right now

From April 2026, GP practices in England can prescribe Mounjaro under the new GP contract, but participation is optional and varies by practice and area. The current NHS cohort (active from June 2025) covers adults with a BMI of 40 or above plus four or more of five specific conditions: high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A second cohort, covering BMI 35–39.9 with four or more of those conditions, opened in June 2026. The thresholds will loosen further in 2027. Every NHS patient must also take part in wrap-around dietary and activity support, meeting the numbers does not guarantee a prescription if that support isn't in place.

The detail of each NHS phase, including the phased BMI thresholds, is set out on the criteria for getting Mounjaro on the NHS page. If you want a clear summary of what the criteria for Mounjaro on the NHS actually involve, that page walks through each condition and threshold in plain terms. For a broader picture of what NHS access involves, NHS England's guidance on weight-management injections explains the wraparound care requirement.

What happens if you don't meet NHS criteria or your GP practice isn't participating

Many people who are clinically appropriate for Mounjaro sit below the current NHS BMI thresholds, have fewer than four qualifying conditions, or simply find their local practice isn't taking part yet. The private route, through a GPhC-registered pharmacy like ours, works to the licensed indication rather than the phased NHS rules. There is no referral needed and no waiting list. A qualified Independent Prescriber reviews your consultation the same day, reading your answers, your health history and any existing medications as a real clinician, not a screening algorithm.

If approved, treatment is dispatched the same day for free next-working-day delivery by DPD, in plain unbranded packaging. The cost of treatment, which includes consultation, prescription and delivery, is shown transparently on the Mounjaro cost page, worth reading before you decide. You can explore all available treatments and start your free consultation when you're ready.