PBS move brings Wegovy closer for people with heart disease and obesity
19 Dec 2025
The recommendation followed the PBAC’s November meeting, with the decision made public late last week. If approved, PBS access would be limited to people who have already experienced a serious cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, or who have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
The PBAC said access should be targeted to those at highest risk, given the high cost of treatment. It recommended eligibility be limited to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m² or higher, or 32.5 kg/m² or higher for people of Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.
The committee also provided broader advice to Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler on how GLP-1 medicines for obesity could be made more affordable and equitable in the future. Priority groups identified included people with cardiovascular disease, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with obesity-related conditions, people with syndromic or medication-induced obesity, and patients who need to lose weight to qualify for surgery.
However, the PBAC stressed that any PBS listing would still require a formal submission demonstrating both clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness.
Cost remains a major barrier, with the PBAC noting that around 420,000 Australians accessed semaglutide or tirzepatide through the private market in July 2025. Because of concerns about long-term safety, cost, and potential misuse, the committee advised that any PBS rollout should be gradual and carefully managed.
RACGP Expert Committee member Dr Michael Tam welcomed the recommendation, saying PBS listing would significantly improve access for patients who would benefit most. He also cautioned that medication funding should not come at the expense of investment in obesity prevention, including healthier environments and community-based interventions.
The PBAC echoed this view, highlighting the importance of non-drug approaches such as nutrition and physical activity support alongside any future PBS subsidy.
Earlier this year, the RACGP updated its position on obesity prevention and management, supporting PBS subsidy for evidence-based obesity medicines to help reduce health inequity.
Source: newsGP; Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC); Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
