Overview
- The MHRA licensed the oral semaglutide tablet known as Wegovy in June and the lowest starter doses began private sale through multiple UK pharmacies this week, with retailers offering introductory prices around £79–£99 for new patients.
- Pharmacies report strong demand and large pre‑orders and many have expanded consultation and support services to assess eligibility, start titration from 1.5mg then 4mg and eventually higher doses, and monitor common side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea.
- Wegovy tablets are available only to adults meeting MHRA criteria — BMI of 30 or higher or BMI 27–30 with a weight‑related condition — and must be prescribed after a clinical consultation because the pill requires specific fasting and dosing rules to work.
- Pharmacy bodies and experts warn the tablet form is likely to spur a rise in counterfeit or unlicensed products sold online, and they urge patients to use regulated providers to avoid dangerous fake pills and improper prescribing.
- Routine NHS availability is not yet set because NICE appraisal and NHS England funding decisions remain pending, which critics say risks a two‑tier system given estimates that millions could be eligible and that a full NHS roll‑out may take years.