The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended Wegovy (semaglutide) be subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Diabetes Australia’s Group CEO Justine Cain has welcomed the recommendation and comments from Federal Health Minister Mark Butler indicating the government would work with manufacturer Novo Nordisk to list the medication, making it more affordable for Australians.
“Supporting individuals who want to lose weight is an important part of type 2 diabetes prevention, and ensuring the affordability of medicines that help people achieve that goal is critical.
“There are many factors that contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes including genetics or family history, but in 58% of cases it can be prevented or delayed. Supporting Australians with affordable access to weight loss medicines is one of the tools that can help with this,” Ms Cain said.
The published recommendation states that the subsidy should be provided “for adults with established cardiovascular disease (eCVD) with obesity. Patients must have already experienced a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, stroke, or have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.”
The Diabetes Alliance*, led by Diabetes Australia, made a joint submission to PBAC’s November 2025 meeting regarding the importance of access to GLP-1 RA medicines (such as semaglutide) for the treatment of obesity, due to the increased risk of chronic conditions including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
“It’s excellent to see the advice of the sector being positively received,” Ms Cain said.
“This separate recommendation about Wegovy is a helpful step in the management of obesity and ongoing efforts to reduce the rates of chronic conditions in Australia.”
Over 1.3 million Australians are living with type 2 diabetes and another 2 million are at risk of developing the chronic condition.
* The Diabetes Alliance includes Diabetes Australia, the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, the Australian Diabetes Society, Breakthrough T1D, the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society, and the Australian and New Zealand Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.
