Wegovy Moves Closer to Public Subsidy in a Major Shift for Obesity Treatment
Right now, there’s a big development unfolding in Australia around Wegovy, the popular weight-loss medication based on semaglutide. It has been recommended for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, or PBS, which could dramatically change who can afford and access this treatment.
The recommendation has come from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, known as the PBAC, following its November meeting. What’s being proposed is targeted access, not a free-for-all. Under the recommendation, Wegovy would be subsidised specifically for adults who are living with obesity and already have established cardiovascular disease. That means patients who have previously had serious events like a heart attack or stroke, or who have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, would be prioritised.
To manage both cost and equity, access would be limited further by body mass index thresholds. PBS eligibility would apply to people with a BMI of 35 or higher, or 32.5 or higher for people of Asian, Aboriginal, or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. This approach has been framed as a way to focus public funding on those at the highest health risk while acknowledging the high price of GLP-1 medications.
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At the same time, the PBAC has gone further than just Wegovy. At the request of Health Minister Mark Butler, a broader review of GLP-1 drugs for obesity was conducted, with equity at the centre of the discussion. Several groups were identified as priorities for subsidised access, including people with cardiovascular disease, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with obesity-related conditions, people with syndromic or medication-induced obesity, and those who need weight loss in order to qualify for surgery.
Cost has been openly acknowledged as a major barrier. Despite that, private market data shows strong demand, with around 420,000 Australians reportedly accessing semaglutide or similar drugs privately as recently as July 2025. Because of this, the PBAC has advised a slow and carefully managed rollout if PBS listing goes ahead, to avoid misuse, control spending, and better understand long-term outcomes.
There has also been caution raised about risks. If these drugs are used by very large populations, rare but serious side effects could become more common, potentially outweighing benefits in people without existing health problems.
From the clinical side, many doctors have welcomed the move. It has been described as a positive step for fairness, especially for patients who currently miss out because of cost. However, there’s also concern that funding medications alone is not enough. Prevention, healthy environments, and non-drug supports like diet and physical activity programs are still seen as essential.
In short, Wegovy is now closer than ever to public subsidy, but the message is clear: access will be cautious, targeted, and balanced against long-term health system priorities.
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