Wegovy, a drug containing semaglutide, has been provisionally recommended for funding by a Pharmac advisory panel for chronic weight management in individuals with high BMI’s and associated conditions.
Since its introduction in July last year, Wegovy costs approximately $460 per month. The recommendation from the advisory group includes Special Authority criteria that will regulate who can prescribe the medication.
The decision was made following a meeting in December, with a detailed report of the meeting set to be available by March.
Professor Wayne Cutfield, a paediatric endocrinology expert at the Liggins Institute, believes that funding Wegovy for teenagers could prevent severe health issues in the future.
He highlighted the presence of extremely obese teenagers, weighing between 120 and 150 kilograms, who visit clinics regularly at a young age.
Cutfield emphasized the importance of making lifestyle changes alongside taking medication to sustain weight loss and avoid long-term dependency on drugs.
Pharmac has not confirmed eligibility criteria for teens if Wegovy is funded, but Cutfield anticipates that they will be considered due to the lack of other treatment options for severely obese teenagers.
Despite the cost of Wegovy, Cutfield stressed the potential benefits of funding the drug in preventing costly medical conditions associated with obesity.
While acknowledging the importance of medication, Cutfield emphasized the need for healthcare providers to focus on implementing lifestyle changes to eventually wean patients off the drug.
Pharmac’s director of device and assessment, Dr. David Hughes, mentioned that age is not a primary factor in funding decisions unless clinically justified.
Pharmac is expected to release the full recommendations related to the funding applications for Semaglutide in March 2026.
New Zealand currently has the third-highest adult obesity rate among OECD countries.
