France is preparing to reimburse two widely discussed anti-obesity medicines, Wegovy and Mounjaro, through the national health insurance system, marking a major policy shift in access to weight-loss treatments. The announcement is expected on Thursday, May 28, 2026, by Health Minister Stéphanie Rist at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, after more than a year of negotiations between the government and the companies that manufacture the drugs.
Wegovy, made by Danish pharmaceutical group Novo Nordisk, and Mounjaro, produced by U.S.-based Eli Lilly, belong to a class of medicines known as GLP-1 analogues. These drugs mimic the action of a hormone involved in appetite regulation and produce a strong appetite-suppressing effect. Their use has grown rapidly worldwide because of their notable results in helping patients lose significant weight and improve related health outcomes.
According to the report, the benefits can go beyond weight loss. These treatments have been associated with improvements such as the disappearance or reduction of type 2 diabetes, as well as lower cardiovascular and kidney risks. That effectiveness is one reason they have become global phenomena and why they have drawn intense interest from patients, doctors, and health authorities.
The financial stakes are considerable. These medicines are expensive, costing between 250 and 400 euros per month. Because obesity affects a large share of the French adult population, the potential cost to the public health system is substantial. Roughly half of adults in France are overweight and could, in theory, be candidates for these treatments. However, the drugs are intended for long-term use, and stopping treatment can lead to rapid weight regain. That makes reimbursement decisions especially sensitive for a system already under heavy financial pressure.
To limit use and control costs, access will be restricted. The first prescription will only be allowed from specialists in endocrinology, diabetology, or nutrition. Patients must also have already tried dieting without success. After the initial prescription, general practitioners will be able to renew the treatment.
The expected reimbursement rate is 65%, according to the report. But eligibility will remain narrow. Only patients with severe obesity will qualify: those with a body mass index above 40, or above 35 if they also have a serious related medical condition, known as a comorbidity. This means the policy is designed for the most medically at-risk patients rather than for broad weight-loss use.
The move reflects both the medical promise and the economic challenge of a new generation of anti-obesity drugs. While Wegovy and Mounjaro are seen as highly effective treatments for obesity-related disease, their high cost and the scale of potential demand have made reimbursement a difficult issue. France’s decision would place these medicines within the public health safety net, but only under tightly controlled conditions.
