South Africa lately turned the primary African nation to introduce Wegovy, Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss injection.
This weekly semaglutide jab, which shares an equivalent lively ingredient with Ozempic, launched within the nation simply over a month in the past.
Since its debut, demand for the weight-loss jab has been excessive, however so have the boundaries to entry. For a lot of South Africans, the associated fee stays out of attain.
AT WHAT COST?
In keeping with Reuters, one in two South African adults lives with weight problems or extra weight, making the marketplace for weight-loss therapies important. But, affordability is a barrier. A month’s provide of Wegovy on the highest dose (2.4 mg) prices round R3,700, inserting it out of attain for a lot of households.
Including to the problem, most medical help schemes in South Africa don’t at present cowl weight problems remedy. This implies sufferers will seemingly pay out of pocket.
COMPETITION AND SHORTAGES
Wegovy entered a market with Ozempic and Mounjaro already in use. Ozempic is used off-label for weight reduction; Mounjaro is accredited for diabetes however typically prescribed off-label too.
Pharmacists have already reported sporadic shortages of those weight-loss medication abroad, with world demand outstripping provide. South Africa has not but seen main inventory points, however consultants warn it might be on the horizon as extra sufferers search prescriptions.
EXPERTS WARN OF INEQUALITY
South Africa faces one of many highest weight problems charges globally, with almost half of adults obese or overweight, in response to the Human Sciences Analysis Council. Public well being consultants warn that high-cost medication like Wegovy danger widening the healthcare hole.
“City sufferers in non-public healthcare could entry Wegovy, however in rural areas and the general public sector, it’s not even an choice,” one weight problems advocacy group informed MedicalBrief.
Until medical aids step in or costs drop, Wegovy dangers being a distinct segment product in a rustic battling a widespread weight problems disaster.
