French officials announced Thursday that the country will begin covering the cost of weight-loss medications for patients with severe obesity starting in mid-June, according to Health Minister Stephanie Rist speaking with TF1 channel.
The injectable treatments Wegovy from Novo Nordisk and Mounjaro from Eli Lilly have become widely recognized around the world as effective anti-obesity medications.
Officials are completing final preparations for the reimbursement program, which is scheduled to take effect by mid-June. The coverage will apply to patients who have a body mass index of 35 or higher along with at least one additional health condition, or those with a BMI of 40 or above regardless of other medical issues.
As many as one million individuals could qualify for the cost coverage, though prescriptions will remain up to individual physicians’ judgment. The reimbursement rate will be set at 65%, but Rist noted that most qualifying patients will receive complete coverage because of their existing health complications.
The health minister projects the program will cost the government approximately €100 million annually once fully implemented. Currently, French patients spend about €300 monthly for these medications.
