Fears over 'postcode lottery' for NHS weight-loss drug access in Scotland
Poverty advocates warn that access to NHS-funded weight-loss medication in Scotland is increasingly uneven, depending on where people live. Out of the nation’s 14 regional health boards, only two currently provide new-generation GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Meanwhile, around 300,000 people across the UK are believed to be obtaining these medications privately. For many, however, the rising costs have made private treatment impossible to sustain.
The cost barrier for patients
Debbie from Glasgow shared her struggle after the price of Mounjaro surged dramatically in September. She had been paying for the injections herself until the price increase became unmanageable.
“The last time I paid for it, it was £199, and I was struggling to justify that. Then I got an email saying the same dose was going up to £301, and I thought, ‘Well, I can’t’. So now I’ve lost nearly three stone – but how am I going to keep this weight off?”
Unable to afford the new price, Debbie has joined an 18-month NHS waiting list for specialist weight-management support arranged through her GP.
“I’m getting to the stage of desperation for that type of rise. If I could get the same medication cheaper, I would.”
Charities raise concerns
Charitable organizations report that Debbie’s story reflects a broader issue. They say healthy eating and effective weight control remain more difficult for people with lower incomes, particularly as food prices continue to climb.
System inequality warning
Campaigners argue that the current distribution of NHS weight-loss drugs creates a dangerous "postcode lottery," where patient access depends more on geography than medical need.
Summary: Inequality in NHS access to weight-loss drugs across Scotland is growing, leaving lower-income patients struggling with rising private costs and long NHS waiting lists.