France will become the first country in the European Union to reimburse anti-obesity drugs through its public healthcare system, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on Thursday (28 May).
From mid-June, severely obese patients in France will be able to receive partial or full reimbursement for weight-loss injections Wegovy and Mounjaro under the national social security system.
The move marks a major shift in access to obesity treatment in Europe, where the high cost of the drugs has remained a barrier for many patients.
“We are the first country in the European Union to provide reimbursement for patients who need it, under general law, on a permanent basis,” Rist said during an interview with TF1 television.
The treatment will be available to adults with severe obesity who meet strict medical criteria.
Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 and at least one obesity-related illness will qualify. Those with a BMI of 40 or above will also be eligible, even without additional health conditions.
The drugs will officially be reimbursed at a rate of 65%. However, Rist said most eligible patients are likely to receive full coverage because many already qualify for 100% reimbursement due to related medical conditions.
“The target population is around one million people. However, this does not mean that everyone will receive the treatment, as it always depends on the individual case and the doctor’s prescription,” she said.
Wegovy, produced by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro have become some of the world’s most sought-after obesity treatments in recent years.
The drugs help patients lose weight by regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. Demand has surged globally as governments and healthcare systems seek ways to tackle rising obesity rates.
In France, the treatments have been available by prescription since 2024, but patients have until now had to cover the cost themselves. Monthly treatment costs average around €300.
Rist estimated the reimbursement programme would eventually cost the French state around €100 million per year as prescriptions increase.
Last year, France also widened access by allowing all doctors, not just specialists such as endocrinologists, to prescribe the treatments.
According to a French study published in 2024, around 18% of France’s population - roughly 10 million people - are obese.
As of January this year, more than 70,000 patients in France were already being treated with Mounjaro, according to estimates.
Health officials said the reimbursement programme is intended to help patients suffering from chronic obesity-related conditions rather than support cosmetic weight loss.
“It addresses a growing public health challenge and the urgency of appropriate therapeutic care,” said Étienne Tichit, General Manager of Novo Nordisk France.
Mike Doustdar, president and chief executive of Novo Nordisk, said the decision showed “the foresight and maturity of the French system.”
The decision comes as competition in the obesity drug market continues to intensify.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have both launched oral versions of their weight-loss treatments in the U.S. Last week, the European Medicines Agency recommended approval of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill, which could become the first oral anti-obesity drug available in Europe.
In the UK, weight-loss drugs including Wegovy and Mounjaro are available on the NHS, but access remains limited under strict eligibility criteria. Patients typically need to meet BMI thresholds and have obesity-related health conditions.
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