Countries and destinations covered

These groupings help you find the right country. Each one sets its own medicine rules.

  • United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland.
  • Nearby places with their own arrangements: Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Start with the right country

Start with the UK guide if you live in the UK. It covers MHRA approval, NHS and private access, pharmacy checks and travel planning. Ireland has its own medicine and pharmacy regulators. Within the UK, Great Britain and Northern Ireland have different pharmacy regulators. A label such as British Isles does not mean one set of medicine rules.

Approval is one step of several

An approval announcement tells you the product is approved. Your clinician still decides whether to prescribe. The NHS or another payer decides whether to fund it. The local pharmacy may or may not stock your strength. The MHRA made specific announcements in 2026 for oral Wegovy and Foundayo in the UK. Check product and supply arrangements separately for Ireland and the Crown Dependencies.

Hand over your care when you move

If you move between these countries, prepare a summary with the generic names, current strength, last dose, how you responded and any side effects. Ask the new clinician what else they need. A shared language or familiar brand does not replace a new assessment or a valid prescription. If you receive a different pen or pack, ask for its instructions and a demonstration where needed.

Buying and travelling need separate checks

A UK private pharmacy may supply UK patients lawfully and still be unable to send the same medicine to Ireland or elsewhere. Check the destination and the sale before you order. When you travel, carry labelled packaging and proof of your prescription, and ask about storage for your exact product. The country guides help you check access. They do not list sellers, and a listed medicine may not be on sale in every place.

Country guides in this region

Sources

Your own medicine leaflet and prescriber come first. A source from another country does not mean the same rule applies in the UK.

  1. MHRA: GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes gov.uk
  2. MHRA: Wegovy tablet approval, 11 June 2026 gov.uk
  3. MHRA: Foundayo approval, 10 August 2026 gov.uk
  4. HPRA hpra.ie

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