France has joined other European countries in refusing to cover the cost of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy through its national insurance programme. While Wegovy, made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is now available in France for people with obesity, patients will have to pay out of pocket, with costs ranging from €270 to €330 per month. The drug is recommended only as a second-line treatment, and prescriptions must be initiated by obesity specialists to prevent misuse.
Wegovy is part of a new class of appetite-suppressing drugs that have become popular, with global sales expected to hit €117.4 billion by 2028. However, despite their success, concerns remain about their high cost, potential side effects, and the fact that weight often returns once people stop taking the drug. Other countries, like Germany and Denmark, also restrict public funding for such drugs, classifying obesity as a “lifestyle” issue rather than a medical condition. The UK’s health service, meanwhile, limits the use of Wegovy to a maximum of two years, raising concerns about long-term effectiveness.