Home · Health · Oct 15 archive
Fewer Than 800 Scots Receive Weight-Loss Jabs on NHS
Confirmed
In Short: Despite approval three years ago, fewer than 800 Scots have received weight-loss injections on the NHS, BBC reports.
Fewer than 800 Scots have received weight-loss injections on the National Health Service (NHS) since the drugs were approved for use in 2023, according to a BBC investigation. The figures, as of September 2026, show that only 705 patients had received the injections.
Mounjaro and Wegovy are two of the weight management drugs approved for use on the NHS in Scotland. However, fewer than half of Scotland's health boards currently offer the treatment for weight loss, with only a small number of pilot schemes running across the country.
Kathleen McLaughlin, one of the patients accessing the jabs on the NHS, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. 'I didn't want to go down that route without having somebody by my side to guide me through it,' she said. McLaughlin is using the injections to prepare for surgery.
The disparity between public and private access to these drugs is stark. Simple Online Pharmacy estimates that at least 300,000 people in Scotland are using the drugs privately, while other estimates suggest around 2.4 million people across the UK are prescribed weight-loss medication.
Dr Mark Strachan, a diabetes specialist and president of the Royal College of Physicians, criticized the lack of progress. 'It's unacceptable that there has been no meaningful progress since the drugs were approved,' he said.
The Scottish Government maintains that the trials of the medicine are part of a range of treatments to tackle obesity, with a third of Scots classified as obese. 'The medicines are part of a range of treatments for obesity, and individual health boards are responsible for decisions on the availability of medicines,' the government stated.
The NHS is spending significant amounts of money every year to treat the complications of obesity, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. 'It stops your life progressing. You're just vegetating your life away,' said one patient, highlighting the impact of obesity on daily life.
Health boards have responded to the BBC's freedom of information request, with five confirming they prescribe the drugs as part of pilot projects. The remaining nine health boards do not currently routinely prescribe the jabs for weight loss, although some are looking to introduce access.
What this adds
While the drugs are available privately, the cost can be prohibitive for many, leading to a significant disparity in access. The Scottish Government's approach to weight management through pilot schemes has not yet translated into widespread access for patients.
The disparity between public and private access to weight-loss drugs highlights the ongoing challenges in providing equitable healthcare in Scotland.
Background
Researchers found that participants with higher self-esteem scores experienced better weight loss outcomes in group therapy settings compared to individual therapy.
What's confirmed
- Mounjaro is one of the weight management drugs Mounjaro has been approved for use specifically for weight loss on the NHS in Scotland since 2023, and Wegovy was approved in 2024.
- The figures showed that a total of 705 patients had received injections for weight loss by September 2026.
- Fewer than 800 people in Scotland have received weight-loss injections through the NHS despite the growing popularity of the treatments.
- Simple Online Pharmacy estimates at least 300,000 people in Scotland are using the drugs privately, while other estimates suggest around 2.4 million people across the UK are prescribed weight-loss medication.
- Fewer than half of Scotland's health boards currently offer the treatment for weight loss, with only a small number of pilot schemes running across the country.
What's still developing
- Leading doctors have described the situation as "discriminatory" and argued that the lack of access on the NHS is widening health inequalities.
- "I can't believe that I'm having the opportunity when so many other people are having to pay for it or not having even the chance for it," she added.
- "We'll have more understanding of how they work, which groups to target."
- Studies have found that people who come off weight loss injections can regain their lost pounds four times faster than those who stop conventional diet and exercise.