Ozempic is forcing Australia's major private health insurers to rethink their rebates amid global shortage

Ozempic is an injectable drug for people with type 2 diabetes, but is experiencing soaring global demand as a weight loss medication.

It's people like Mitchell Peters, taking steps to reduce his existing obesity-related health issues, who are caught in the middle. He's unable to access rebates under the National Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and relies on private health insurance policies for rebates.But providers don't agree on how to cover Ozempic when it comes to its use as an off-schedule pharmaceutical.From August, rebates for Saxenda and Wegovy, containing the Ozempic ingredient semaglutide, will be cut.

"We believe we can improve that health and wellbeing by supporting access to life-changing medications, as Ozempic," he said.The Therapeutic Goods Administration will move to ban compounding pharmacists from making their own versions of injectable weight loss drugs due to concerns the compounded products may not be safe or effective." are changing the way that we think about diabetes and weight management, but also cardiovascular risk management," Mr McGrath said.

But instead of cutting rebates to save costs, he said the company's thinking was taking steps to prevent obesity-related illnesses will benefit customers and the insurers' finances long term."These medications aren't for everybody. Some people will experience side effects, and some people just won't be able to tolerate those side effects," Mr McGrath said.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

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