Can You Get Wegovy for Free? What the NHS Offers — and Your Other Options

The myth: 'Free' means easy or fast

The biggest misconception about getting Wegovy through the NHS is that eligibility is simply a matter of BMI. It is not. NICE's recommendation for semaglutide (TA875) sets the bar considerably higher: treatment is currently reserved for adults within a specialist NHS weight management service, with a BMI of 35 or above and at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK guidance, but the specialist-service requirement remains. NICE also places a two-year maximum on NHS semaglutide use and asks clinicians to review whether to continue if less than 5% weight loss has been achieved after six months at the maintenance dose. The full criteria are published in NICE's appraisal of semaglutide (TA875).

Even for those who meet every criterion, availability is patchy. Specialist weight management services carry substantial waiting lists in most parts of England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland commission access differently, so geography matters. 'Free' is real for some people, but it is not quick, and it is not guaranteed.

How NHS access to Wegovy actually works right now

If you believe you may qualify, the starting point is your GP. They assess whether you meet the current criteria and, if so, refer you to a specialist weight management service. That service then determines whether semaglutide is clinically appropriate for you as part of a broader programme that includes dietary and activity support. The prescription comes from the specialist team, not your GP directly.

For tirzepatide (Mounjaro), the NHS rollout is different again, phased by BMI and number of qualifying conditions, with Cohort 2 (BMI 35–39.9 plus four or more conditions) activated in June 2026. The full picture of NHS eligibility for weight-loss injections covers both medicines if you want to compare what each route currently requires.

NHS England's guidance on weight-management injections sets out the practical detail, including the wraparound care requirements every NHS patient must take part in.

What to do if you do not qualify, or cannot wait

Private prescription through a regulated online pharmacy is the alternative for people who fall outside the NHS criteria or want to start without a referral queue. The legal route is identical in structure: a prescriber assesses you, decides whether treatment is appropriate, and issues a prescription if it is. What differs is speed and access threshold. Private eligibility broadly follows the licensed indication (adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a qualifying weight-related condition) rather than the tighter NHS specialist-service criteria.

At nume, the process runs like this. You complete a free clinical consultation online. A named GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reads your answers the same day. If treatment is clinically suitable, photo ID and live weight verification are completed, your GP is notified in line with GPhC guidance, and your prescription is issued. Order before 12pm on a weekday and your pen is dispatched the same afternoon, useful if you are trying to get started before a holiday or before the school run fills the rest of your week. It arrives the next working day by DPD, in plain unbranded packaging. You can read more about getting Wegovy through a regulated online pharmacy if you want the step-by-step detail.

Our clinical team reviews every repeat order too, there is no automatic renewal or subscription.

Checking any pharmacy is real before you order

Semaglutide has become one of the most counterfeited medicines in the UK. The MHRA has publicly warned about fake weight-loss pens sold through social media and unverified websites, some confiscated pens contained insulin rather than semaglutide, causing hospitalisations. In 2025 alone, enforcement operations seized approximately 20 million doses of illegally traded weight-loss medicines with a street value of around £45 million, including a UK-based counterfeit manufacturing site. The MHRA's drug safety communications document these risks in detail.

The practical check takes about thirty seconds. Every pharmacy legally dispensing prescription medicines in the UK must be registered with the GPhC. You can search by pharmacy name or registration number at the GPhC pharmacy register. nume's registration number is 9012878. Red flags include sellers offering these medicines without a prescription, prices far below the current private market, and anyone advertising discount codes for a prescription-only medicine. Report anything suspicious via the Yellow Card scheme.

If you would like to understand what private Wegovy costs and what a legitimate price includes, that page covers the market context honestly. And if you are not sure whether Wegovy or tirzepatide is the better fit for your situation, our treatment overview explains the difference without a sales angle. If you are already on treatment and thinking ahead, our guidance on how to come off Wegovy safely covers what to expect when you stop, and our page on the different ways to get Wegovy in the UK brings together the NHS and private routes in one place.