France Becomes First EU Nation to Permanently Subsidize Weight-Loss Medications

The French government is set to begin providing public reimbursement for anti-obesity drugs starting in mid-June, marking a significant shift in European healthcare policy. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced that the state will subsidize treatments such as Wegovy, produced by Novo Nordisk, and Mounjaro, manufactured by Eli Lilly. France stands as the first country within the European Union to implement a permanent reimbursement scheme for these medications, aiming to assist patients struggling with severe obesity.

Under the new policy, the state will officially cover 65 percent of the drug costs. However, officials expect that the vast majority of eligible patients will receive full coverage, particularly those suffering from comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension. To qualify for the program, patients must meet stringent medical criteria, specifically holding a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI exceeding 35 when accompanied by weight-related health complications. These individuals are often considered candidates for bariatric surgery, and the government views these GLP-1 receptor agonists as a viable medical alternative.

The initiative is projected to cost the French public health system approximately 100 million euros annually. By targeting those with the most severe health risks, authorities hope to mitigate the long-term burden of obesity-related diseases on the national healthcare infrastructure. While other nations like the United Kingdom and Switzerland have already established their own subsidy frameworks for similar treatments, France’s move represents a broader trend of integrating advanced weight-management drugs into standard public health coverage. The program remains strictly regulated, ensuring that prescriptions are only issued when a physician determines the medication is medically necessary for the patient's specific health profile.