As of June 8, 2026, NHS Scotland has approved three specific medications for obesity management—Liraglutide (Saxenda®), Semaglutide (Wegovy®), and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)—following their inclusion in the East Region Formulary. However, access remains strictly limited, and several health boards, including NHS Lothian and NHS Lanarkshire, are currently unable to accept new referrals for these treatments while developing clinical pathways for a phased roll-out.
Current Status of Weight Management Medications in Scotland
Three medications are currently approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for the treatment of obesity and weight management. These include two GLP-1 therapies, Liraglutide (Saxenda®) and Semaglutide (Wegovy®), as well as a “dual agent” medication, Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®), which combines GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonists.
According to NHS Lothian, these medicines were added to the East Region Formulary in February 2025. Despite this approval, patients cannot currently access these treatments through standard GP referrals. Health boards are working under a Scottish Government consensus statement that advises on national eligibility criteria and a phased implementation strategy.
Why Access to Weight-Loss Injections is Restricted
While the medications are approved, the rollout is subject to significant operational constraints. NHS Lothian has confirmed that its Weight Management Service is not accepting referrals for these obesity medications as of June 8, 2026, while a dedicated working group develops the necessary clinical pathways for safe prescribing and monitoring.
Similarly, NHS Lanarkshire notes that global supply shortages have impacted availability. While they have the capacity to prescribe Wegovy® and Mounjaro® on a very limited basis for exceptional circumstances, these are only available through the Lanarkshire Weight Management and Healthy Lifestyle Service (LWMS) and are not issued by GPs. Saxenda® is currently unavailable for new patients in Lanarkshire due to global supply issues.
Key Differences in Regional Availability
The implementation of these treatments varies by health board, reflecting the complexity of integrating new weight management therapies into existing services:
- NHS Lothian: Developing a phased roll-out strategy; currently not accepting referrals for initiation of these medicines.
- NHS Lanarkshire: Prescribing Wegovy® and Mounjaro® only in exceptional circumstances via the LWMS; no new referrals for these specific medications are being accepted at this time.
- GP Services: Across these regions, GPs do not issue these specific weight-loss injections; they remain managed through specialist weight management services.
What Patients Should Know
If you are seeking support for weight management, the first step remains consulting with your local health services to understand current eligibility. It is important to note that NHS Scotland does not recommend or endorse the private purchase of these medications.
Patients should monitor their local health board’s official website for updates regarding the development of clinical pathways. Because these pathways are currently being finalized to ensure patient safety, the availability of these treatments is expected to change as health boards conclude their planning and begin phased implementation. For general health inquiries, patients in England can continue to utilize NHS 111 or the NHS website for guidance on accessing local services.