From Italy to Greece and Portugal, the Off-Label use of GLP-1 medication similar to Ozimpic and Mounjaro for weight reduction is creating a non-public market and a public well being dilemma.
Within a couple of years, Europe has witnessed an unprecedented change in the way in which by which a category of so-called agonist medication of the GLP-1 receptor is perceived and used. Originally developed to deal with sort 2 diabetes, these injectable medication are actually feeding a sector for weight lack of billions of euros, led by personal demand, by social media Hype and regulatory gaps. The new “Hysteria Loss weight” started within the United States, the place costs for medication stay increased, however individuals are nonetheless prepared to pay $ 1,300 each month with out insurance coverage protection. The development is now exploding in Europe and isn’t restricted to these with medical circumstances and weight problems, however unfold to these in search of a brand new method to get a physique prepared for the seashore. But what worth are we prepared to pay for the physique of desires all through Europe?
Italy: a leap of ten instances in buying
The Italian personal marketplace for GLP-1 medication exploded in 2024, reaching an unimaginable expenditure for international anti-obesity medication, a rise of over ten instances in comparison with 2020. According to the pharmaceutical information manufacturing facility (PDF), personal expenditure for Glp-1 agonists was doubled from 52 million euros in over 115 million euros in 2024.
This wave derives from an growing development: off-ethics of antidiabetic medication for weight reduction. Since this use is just not at present coated by the Italian National Health Service, many of the bills come straight from the affected person’s pockets.
There is, nevertheless, motion on the coverage stage. The latest legislation n. 741, which formally acknowledges weight problems as a continual illness, can open the way in which for future reimbursement pursuant to the provisions in Italy for the important ranges of insurance coverage help (Lea). For the second, nevertheless, the prescriptions are typically restricted to specialists and sometimes require proof of the physique mass index or the circumstances regarding diabetes.
Greece: surgical procedure, rigorous guidelines
The phenomenon is mirrored in Greece, the place the usage of anti-obesity medication elevated by 82.5% in 2024, with 93 million euros of complete expenditure. Ozempic’s reputation has risen to the celebs and since then the market has prolonged to incorporate Mounjaro, launched in November 2024.
Despite the keenness of customers, the Greek rules stay among the many most extreme in Europe. The prescription of those weight problems medication is technically prohibited, besides in doubtlessly deadly circumstances. Doctors should show a prognosis of diabetes to prescribe them, making authentic prescriptions for weight reduction nearly not possible by means of official channels.
But regulatory rigidity has not slowed down the underground momentum. With Mounjaro’s gross sales that now have an effect on 12,000 items per 30 days, worth cuts, such because the 23% decline introduced by Pharmaserve-Lilly in February, it’s anticipated that they’ll additional speed up the unfold of the drug, authorized or in any other case.
Portugal: a market with out reimbursement
In Portugal, the phenomenon of the load loss drug is new however no much less intense. Only within the first 4 months of 2025, Portuguese customers spent nearly 20 million euros on injection based mostly on GLP-1 similar to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and Semaglutide (Wegovy), each who’re formally authorized for the therapy of weight problems.
In simply two months of 2024, over 10,000 Tirzepatide items have been bought, whereas Wegovy, launched in April 2025, collected gross sales of 6,800 items in only one month. With each Wegovy injection that prices EUR 244.80, the development exhibits no indicators of slowing down.
The Ozempico, though not formally authorized for weight reduction, continues to be extensively used off-label. His reputation has led to the pharmacy inventory lack of and to make me ardent – the nationwide medicinal authority – to start out audit of drug circuits in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency.
The refund stays a important level. Despite the rising curiosity and use, Portugal doesn’t but subsidize anti-obesity injectable and your entire value is borne by people, many motivated by the tradition of influencers and the transformations of celebrities.
Spain: on fireplace market
According to the information of the consulting agency IQVIA shared with The confidential digitalThe Spanish pharmaceutical market recorded a turnover for weight reduction medication exceed 484 million euros in 2024, a 65% enhance of 293 million euros in 2023. The items bought elevated from 3.2 to 4.8 million, reflecting a progress of over 50%.
However, regardless of this enhance, the interministerial fee on the costs of medicines and well being merchandise doesn’t publicly monitor the particular expenditure for anti-obesity medication. What is thought: the general expenditure of Spain retail medication is € 412 per capita, 21% under the EU common of € 500, in keeping with the 2024 pharmaceutical expenditure ratio.
In Spain, costs for publicly reimbursed medication are established by the Ministry of Health and anti-obesity medication should be prescribed and supervised by specialists. This regulatory barrier goals to ensure sufficient use, but in addition limits entry, particularly when public demand will increase extra rapidly than political diversifications.
Germany: rising query, restricted entry
In Germany, the demand for medication for weight reduction like Wegovy and Mounjaro is growing rapidly, however public protection stays restricted. These GLP-1 medication can value as much as € 300 per 30 days and, for most individuals, the account is pocket.
By legislation, the German public medical health insurance system excludes medication used solely for weight reduction, classifying them as life-style therapies. However, exceptions are rising. At the start of 2024, the authorities made Wegovy admissible to reimbursement, however solely in circumstances the place weight problems represents a severe cardiovascular threat.
Despite these restrictions, the market is booming. GLP-1 drug gross sales in Germany needs to be greater than double by 2030, reaching over 700 million euros. With greater than half of the obese of the grownup inhabitants, the strain is rising on politicians to broaden entry. For now, the controversy continues: among the many prices, public well being and those that ought to profit from these new highly effective medication.
Poland: quick access by means of TeleMedicina
While some nations restrict entry, Poland presents surprisingly open availability. Ozempico is reimbursed for diabetic sufferers (PLN 121.25 / € 28 with low cost), however will also be obtained by means of telemedicine after a distant session, even with out diabetes, relying on the physician’s analysis.
Ozempic’s full worth is PLN 404 (€ 94) and the demand is excessive, guided by the rising notion of the drug as a weight reduction.
France and the United Kingdom: managed reimbursement programs
France has launched a proper assessment that might result in reimbursement for Mounjaro in circumstances of restricted weight problems, however for now, neither Mounjaro nor Wegove are coated by a public system.
On the opposite, the United Kingdom SSN covers each medication, with admissibility restricted to sufferers referring to specialist weight administration companies. Wegovy grew to become obtainable by means of the NHS in 2023 and Mounjaro adopted him with launch in 2024, in structured applications.
Throughout Europe, public well being methods are dealing with a rising dilemma. Originally designed to handle continual illnesses similar to diabetes, these methods are actually tied by the rise in demand for weight reduction medication similar to Ozimpic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
While weight problems is more and more acknowledged as a continual situation, regulatory and reimbursement insurance policies have fought to maintain up. This non -correspondence has created a rising shadow market, by which folks with out official prognosis pay the pocket. And shopping for a few of these medication is definitely straightforward the way to purchase detoxifying tea. You simply must lie, click on and pay. And that prays that what occurs by means of the put up is the actual factor.
