Saxenda covered by medical card, HSE weight loss medication reimbursement, Saxenda Ireland cost, weight loss medication covered by drugs payment scheme
As of 2026, Saxenda (liraglutide) is the only weight-loss medication reimbursed under the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card scheme in Ireland . However, reimbursement is strictly limited to a narrowly defined patient population under the HSE Managed Access Protocol. Patients are actively searching for this information because they want to know if they qualify before paying privately. Very few websites clearly explain these specific Irish reimbursement criteria .
Target Audience: Irish patients with medical cards or DPS coverage wondering if they qualify for free or reduced-cost Saxenda.
Explain the strict HSE criteria clearly and compassionately. Many patients will not qualify, so provide alternative options including private pricing and payment plans.
Key Information to Include:
Reimbursement under the Managed Access Protocol requires all of the following: BMI of 35 or above, diagnosed prediabetes with fasting plasma glucose 5.5 to 6.9 mmol/L and HbA1c 42 to 47 mmol/mol, high cardiovascular risk with total cholesterol above 5 mmol/L or mean systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg, and active participation in a non-pharmacological weight management intervention .
Reimbursement is approved in two phases. Phase one grants six months of coverage. For phase two to be approved, the patient must have lost at least five percent of their initial body weight after twelve weeks on the full three milligram daily dose. Total reimbursement support is limited to two years .
For patients who do not qualify for reimbursement, Saxenda is available on private prescription only. Wegovy and Mounjaro are not currently reimbursed on State schemes for weight management in Ireland .
Saxenda product page, pricing page, how to order
Check your eligibility for Saxenda reimbursement. Contact our pharmacy team to discuss your options.