France Becomes First EU Country to Reimburse Weight-Loss Drugs

France makes history. Starting June 15, the nation will become the first in the European Union to reimburse weight-loss drugs, including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced the plan on Thursday, calling it a point of pride.

While the official reimbursement rate is set at 65%, Rist noted that nearly all patients will be fully covered-often at 100%-due to related conditions like hypertension or diabetes.

These GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a hormone that curbs appetite. By late January, over 70,000 patients in France were already using Mounjaro. Monthly costs had previously run around €300 out-of-pocket.

The drugs have been available by prescription since 2024, but only now secured approval for national health insurance coverage. In 2025, France expanded prescribing authority to all doctors. Nearly 18% of the French population-about 10 million people-are obese, mirroring broader EU trends where 17% are obese.