GLP-1s and the UK private healthcare boom

Peter Paumgardhen | Last update: 29th July 2025

TL;DR

• The UK private medicines market grew by 56 per cent in the past year, driven primarily by GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

• Mounjaro and Wegovy are driving this growth, with most users starting treatment through private providers.

• NHS and private prescriptions follow different rules: NHS access is free but requires stricter qualification criteria, while private care is quicker but paid for out of your own pocket in full.

• Prices for private prescriptions vary widely between providers, and offers and stock levels change frequently.

• SlimrChat is beginning to cover pricing trends and availability for Mounjaro and Wegovy, helping users navigate this fast-moving market

A fast-growing market, driven by GLP-1s

Private healthcare in the UK is no longer just about cosmetic surgery or annual check-ups. Prescription medicines have become a major part of the market. In the twelve months to February 2025, the private medicines market grew by 56 per cent, reaching £784 million in sales.

Weight loss treatments, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, accounted for most of this surge. Anti-obesity medicines alone grew by 240 per cent in value. Even excluding weight loss, the private medicines market still rose by 17 per cent, showing that more people are paying privately for a broader range of treatments.

Why are more people paying for their own care?

1. Faster access through private routes

Access to GLP-1s via the NHS has been limited by phased rollouts and strict eligibility criteria. Wegovy, for example, was launched on the NHS in 2023 but with capped availability and only for patients who met strict conditions. In contrast, private providers were able to begin offering the same drugs to broader populations around the same time or even earlier. For people motivated to start treatment quickly, private care often provides a faster and more straightforward path.

2. Fewer restrictions compared to NHS access

The NHS offers weight loss prescriptions like Mounjaro or Wegovy to people who meet strict medical criteria, such as a high BMI combined with serious health risks. You will often need a referral to a Tier 3 specialist service and a diagnosis of obesity-related illness.

In contrast, private providers assess whether treatment is clinically safe for you, but typically do not require the same level of qualifying conditions. This opens the door to people who are overweight or moderately obese and motivated to take action before serious health problems develop.

3. Privacy and convenience

Private online clinics and pharmacies let people manage their weight loss treatment discreetly, without waiting for GP appointments or facing stigma. This convenience appeals to those who prefer to handle sensitive health issues in their own way.

Private prescription prices: A complex and changing market

If you have already researched private GLP-1 treatment, you will know that prices vary significantly. For the same dose, some providers charge nearly double what others do. Delivery fees, consultation charges, and repeat prescription costs are often bundled in confusing ways.

On top of that, stock availability changes frequently. Some providers run out of a specific dose for weeks, while others have it in stock the next day. Promotions and special offers come and go without much warning.

This makes it difficult for users to know if they are getting good value or paying over the odds.

That’s why SlimrChat is beginning to cover this space. We’ll be reporting on private provider pricing, stock fluctuations, and what users need to know when comparing offers. Our aim is to bring clarity and transparency to a part of the healthcare journey that many find confusing.

GLP-1s are leading the private healthcare shift

Wegovy became available privately in September 2023, followed by Mounjaro in February 2024. In less than two years, these medicines have transformed the weight management market.

By March 2025, around 1.5 million people in the UK were using GLP-1 weight loss drugs, according to IQVIA data from the Sigma Conference (Source: SlimrChat article). Private online pharmacies, such as Pharmacy2U and Lloyds Direct, dispensed the majority of these prescriptions.

This is no longer a niche trend. It is a mass-market shift in how people manage their health.

Beyond weight loss: Other areas of private healthcare growth

The rise in self-pay healthcare is not limited to obesity treatment. Other fast-growing areas include:

• Dermatology, such as acne treatments and skin rejuvenation

• Mental health services, including private ADHD assessments and therapy

• Hormone therapies for menopause and testosterone support

• Asthma and COPD management

In all these cases, patients are choosing private healthcare for faster access and greater convenience.

What does this mean for SlimrChat users

If you are using GLP-1 treatment or thinking about it, you are part of this broader shift in healthcare. Increasingly, people are managing their health privately, often alongside the NHS.

This comes with important choices:

• Which provider do you trust?

• How much are you prepared to pay?

• Are you prepared for the cost of long-term treatment?

SlimrChat’s role is to help you understand these decisions. Our community discussions, pricing coverage, and in-depth articles are designed to give you the clarity you need in a fast-changing space.

What to expect next

The pipeline for obesity medicines is packed with innovation. More than 70 companies are developing new treatments, and many of these will be available privately before they become publicly accessible.

The NHS is expanding its access to weight management drugs, but it takes time. Private care will remain the fastest route for many people for the foreseeable future.

The bottom line: Self-pay healthcare is here to stay

Paying for your own weight loss treatment was once rare. Today, it is the practical choice for millions of people in the UK who want fast, private access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro.

But with choice comes complexity. Prices vary, stock changes often, and it is not always clear what you are paying for.

That is why SlimrChat exists. We are here to help you cut through the confusion, share experiences, and build a supportive community for anyone on the GLP-1 weight loss journey.

Join us to share your story, learn from others, and make the right choices for your health.