The race to win customers for the new Wegovy pill is heating up as Britons rush to get their hands on the first oral version of the blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drug. 

Some healthcare providers are offering the first month's treatment for as little as £60 as they battle for market share following the drug's long-awaited rollout in the UK.

Pharmacy bosses say they are seeing 'unprecedented' demand for the tablets, which can help patients shed around 17 per cent of their body weight in 64 weeks.

Adults with a body mass index of more than 30, which is classed as obese, are among those eligible for the medication. It can also be prescribed to people with a BMI between 27 and 30 if they have a weight-related health condition.

Although the pill was approved by health regulators last month, it is not yet available on the NHS. It is currently only available through private providers – many of which began dispensing the drug on Monday following its official release in Britain.

Demand has surged since its launch, with thousands eager to secure a prescription as quickly as possible. ASDA's pharmacy has already received more than 7,000 orders.

Around 2.5million people already use weight-loss injections, but the arrival of a once-daily tablet – which removes the need for weekly injections – is generating huge interest.

To capitalise on the demand, several providers have launched heavily discounted introductory offers. This includes MedExpress, which is selling the lowest dose of the pill – 1.5mg – at £59.99 for the first month.

MedExpress is also charging just £79 for a month's supply of the 'step-up dose' of 4mg.

After the offer ends, its standard prices are £110 for the 1.5mg dose, £119 for 4mg, £159 for 9mg and £199 for the highest 25mg dose.

Following close behind is Numan, which is selling the pill from £66 for the first month to customers who sign up to a 12-month treatment plan. 

Numan is also offering a three-month commitment plan at £69.52 for the first month.

Those who prefer the flexibility of a rolling monthly subscription, which can be cancelled at any time, will still receive a £50 discount for the first month before moving onto Numan's standard prices of for the 1.5mg dose, £159 for 4mg, £199 for 9mg and £249 for the highest 25mg dose.

Women's healthcare provider SheMed is offering the 1.5mg dose from £69 for the first month, after which the monthly price rises to £154. The 4mg dose costs £179 per month, increasing to £219 for 9mg and £269 for the highest 25mg dose. 

According to manufacturer Novo Nordisk, medical professionals will start patients on the 1.5mg dose before increasing it every 30 days until they reach the maximum 25mg dose.

The gradual increase is designed to help the body adjust to the medication and reduce side effects.

Patients already taking 0.5mg or 1mg Wegovy injections may be able to switch to the 9mg tablets, while those using the 1.7mg, 2.4mg or 7.2mg injections may be moved to the 25mg tablets, if medically approved.

Anyone switching from injections will need to wait one week after their final jab before starting the tablets.

On average, the lowest dose of the once-weekly injection – 0.25mg – costs between £80 and £140 per month in the UK. 

Online healthcare providers are offering some of the cheapest introductory deals for the pill.

Others include Pharmacy2U's introductory code, which allows patients to access the 1.5mg dose from £69.99, before returning to its standard price of £109.99. The 4mg dose costs £119.99. 

Second Nature is offering the 1.5mg dose for £74 initially before prices rise to £124 per month thereafter.

The 4mg dose starts at £104 before increasing to £154, while the 9mg dose is £144 initially before rising to £194. The highest 25mg dose starts at £194 before increasing to £244 per month.

Voy is also offering the 1.5mg dose for £74 for the first month before increasing to its standard price of £154. The 4mg dose costs £179, rising to £219 for 9mg and £269 for the highest 25mg dose.

Patients who sought weight-loss support through private doctors and online pharmacies are expected to receive their first batches imminently, having pre-ordered the medication after it was given the green light by regulators.

Those who meet the criteria can also begin requesting it from pharmacies and online healthcare providers now.

High-street pharmacies are keen not to miss out on the demand, with Boots Online Doctor offering the 1.5mg dose for £79 to new customers before reverting to its standard price of £99. 

The 4mg dose costs £119, rising to £149 for 9mg and £229 for the highest 25mg dose.

From July 12, the pill will also be available through Boots' in-store weight-loss service, which is currently offered in 62 pharmacies across the UK, with a further 25 locations due to launch. 

Superdrug Online Doctor, meanwhile, is offering the 1.5mg dose for £79 to new customers before increasing to £99. 

Its 4mg dose initially costs £119, or £99 for new customers, while the 9mg and 25mg doses are priced at £169 and £229 respectively, both of which newcomers will also be given a £20 discount on.

Supermarkets are also entering the battle for customers through their own pharmacy services.

Tesco Pharmacy is offering the lowest standard prices among the major supermarkets, charging £90 for the 1.5mg dose, rising to £155 for the highest 25mg dose.

Morrisons Clinic is undercutting that with an introductory offer of £89 for the first month's 1.5mg dose before the price increases to £119 thereafter.

Meanwhile, Asda Online Doctor is charging £98.97 for the 1.5mg starting dose, with prices rising to £118.97 for 4mg, £128.97 for 9mg and £188.97 for the highest 25mg dose.

Online provider Juniper is offering an initial £60 discount, reducing the 1.5mg dose to £94 and the 4mg dose to £119. 

Without the discount, prices are £154 and £179 respectively. Costs for the higher strengths have yet to be confirmed.

The pill appears to be slightly less effective than the injections, which have been shown to trigger weight loss of up to 20.7 per cent.

The tablet contains the same active ingredient as the injection, semaglutide, which mimics a hormone released in the gut after eating. 

This helps reduce hunger and makes patients feel fuller for longer.