The rising costs of weight loss medications are sparking debate, as medical professionals advocate for these treatments to be more easily accessible. With one in three Australians labelled as obese, the utilisation of weight loss drugs is gaining traction within the healthcare sector.
Queensland resident Kate Fox is one such individual who has successfully lost 45 kilos using the injectable medication Mounjaro. Reflecting on her journey, she stated, “It feels like it flipped a switch for me,” highlighting the transformative effect of the medication. At the start of 2024, Fox weighed between 110kg and 115kg, marking the peak of her struggles with weight.
In Australia, the drug Ozempic is subsidised for diabetes patients, but its siblings, Wegovy and Mounjaro, are the first of their kind approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) specifically for weight management. However, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) chair Dr Terri-Lynne South pointed out that these medications come with hefty price tags, costing patients hundreds of dollars monthly.
Dr South noted that newer obesity treatments show nearly twice the health benefits compared to traditional methods. The recommended retail price ranges from $260 for lower doses to as high as $460 for the maximum dose. The RACGP is advocating for these drugs to be included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which would lower costs to $31.60 per month, potentially preventing further health complications such as heart disease.
While the UK has started to publicly fund these innovative treatments for select patients, Australia has seen Wegovy denied subsidy twice, leaving many patients, like Fox, with significant out-of-pocket expenses. Despite the cost, Fox believes that investing in these medications, along with maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, will ultimately reduce future healthcare costs by optimising health early on.