Home / Health / Women demand funded PMOS weight-loss drugs
Women demand funded PMOS weight-loss drugs
10 Oct
Summary
- Advocates urge taxpayer funding for GLP-1 drugs for PMOS.
- GLP-1s are prescribed off-label as PMOS lacks specific TGA approval.
- High drug costs prevent some women with PMOS from accessing treatment.
Advocates in Australia are calling for GLP-1 weight-loss medications to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for individuals with Polyendrocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). This chronic hormonal condition affects one in eight women and can lead to serious health issues like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Currently, GLP-1 drugs are not officially approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for PMOS, leading to off-label prescriptions. The high cost of these medications, potentially several hundred dollars monthly, creates a barrier for many women. POSAA spokesperson Lorna Berry stressed the importance of equitable access for all patients.
While the Royal Australasian College of Physicians has not yet taken a stance on GLP-1s for PMOS, some express caution due to cost and uncertain long-term PBS listing. They note that women's health conditions are historically underrepresented in such funding decisions.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, is in ongoing negotiations with the Department of Health regarding PBS listing, particularly for Wegovy for obesity. Ozempic is currently listed only for diabetes treatment.
