A new prescription option for weight loss has arrived in New Zealand, with the Government confirming the obesity treatment Wegovy is now available.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour says the move delivers on the Government’s promise to improve access to medical treatments.

Wegovy, a medication already used overseas, was approved by Medsafe in April and is now available for Kiwis with a prescription.

It is not currently publicly funded, so patients will need to pay for the treatment themselves.

“More than two in three adults and nearly one-third of children in New Zealand live with obesity or are overweight,” says Mr Seymour.

“This puts a major strain on the health system and can lead to serious health problems down the track.”

The cost of obesity-related issues in New Zealand is estimated at between $4 billion and $9 billion per year.

Cardiovascular disease alone costs around $3.3 billion annually.

Seymour says early intervention with treatments like Wegovy could reduce the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease.

“These drugs are making an enormous difference in other countries. I hope that they can be a game-changer for a lot of people in New Zealand now as well,” he says.

While this rollout affects people nationwide, it may be particularly welcomed by those living on the Hibiscus Coast, where local GPs could begin prescribing it as part of weight management plans.

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