Concerns Over Unequal NHS Access to Weight-Loss Drugs in Scotland
Poverty campaigners warn that access to NHS weight-loss medications in Scotland depends heavily on location, creating a “postcode lottery.” Only two of Scotland’s 14 regional health boards provide new generation GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Private Access and Affordability Issues
It is estimated that around 300,000 people use weight-loss drugs privately. However, many find paying for these medications increasingly unaffordable. For example, Debbie from Glasgow stopped buying Mounjaro after its price jumped sharply in September, forcing her onto an 18-month NHS waiting list for specialist support.
“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’ … I’m getting to the stage of desperation for that type of rise.”
“I’ve since been put on an 18-month waiting list for specialist weight management support through my GP.”
Wider Impact on Low-Income Individuals
Charities highlight that Debbie’s situation is common, emphasizing that maintaining healthy eating and effective weight management becomes more difficult for people on lower incomes, especially with rising food prices.
Summary
Access to NHS weight-loss drugs in Scotland is inconsistent, forcing many to either pay privately at high costs or endure long waits, disproportionately affecting those with lower incomes.
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