The weight loss drug Wegovy will soon be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for Australians with severe obesity who have also experienced a heart attack or stroke, Health Minister Mark Butler announced. The move is expected to save eligible patients thousands of dollars annually, though Butler warned it would result in a significant cost to taxpayers.
Currently, more than 400,000 Australians pay up to $4,000 or $5,000 per year for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Once listed, eligible patients will pay just $25 per script, or $7.70 for concession card holders, under PBS pricing changes effective January 1.
Wegovy, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication similar to Ozempic, suppresses appetite to promote weight loss. The PBS listing follows a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) late last year for patients with a BMI of 35 or higher and established cardiovascular disease.
Butler declined to provide a cost estimate, stating the government will negotiate pricing with manufacturer Novo Nordisk. PBAC noted a risk that people not meeting both criteria might seek access, recommending a risk-sharing arrangement to manage costs.
Dr. Mark Mellor, lead clinician at Perth Weight Clinic, said the criteria are deliberately narrow to prevent cost blowouts. He emphasized that the drug not only aids weight loss but also helps prevent future cardiovascular events, potentially saving lives.
