Source: PHARMAC
With high obesity rates in New Zealand and new medicines entering the market, public interest in weight‑loss treatments is understandably strong.
In June 2025 Medsafe approved semaglutide (Wegovy) for use in New Zealand for weight loss. Medsafe approves medicines for use in New Zealand. They check that these products meet our standards for safety and quality, and that they work as well as we expect them to.
Pharmac has received three applications to fund semaglutide(external link) for the following conditions:
- weight management for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more with at least one weight-related health condition
- insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes
- cardiovascular disease with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or more.
To help us assess these medicines, a new Obesity Treatments Advisory Group (OTAG) was established and met for the first time in December last year. The group includes a range of clinical expertise and provides objective advice on new obesity treatments and future opportunities.
Pharmac’s Manager Expert Advisory, Caroline De Luca, says this is the first step in gathering advice to inform this complicated decision that could affect many New Zealanders lives.
“When we make funding decisions, we need input from clinical experts in New Zealand so we can understand how the evidence relates in a local context.”
The current members of the group are:
- Dr Liza Lack – Clinical Director, National Hauora Coalition – Waikato (Chair – PTAC Member)
- Dr Bruce King (Chair) – Specialist Internal Medicine and Nephrology (PTAC Member)
- Dr Wing Cheuk Chan – Public Health Physician
- Dr Jo McClintock – Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen – General Practitioner
- Prof Rinki Murphy – Specialist Diabetes Physician
- Dr James Shand – Endocrinologist
- Dr Samuel Whittaker – General Practitioner
OTAG reviewed the application to fund semaglutide for weight loss in December 2025. The group’s provisional recommendation [PDF](external link) is that Pharmac fund it for chronic weight management in people with a high body mass index (BMI) and associated comorbidities, with a high priority. The full record of the meeting is expected to be available by March.
A recommendation from OTAG is not a guarantee that Pharmac will fund a medicine. It is a vital step in the process for considering this application, but it is not the only consideration.
The OTAG advice will contribute to Pharmac’s assessment of the role of these medicines in New Zealand and consider the impact on individuals, whānau, caregivers, and the wider health system. We will continue to seek input from the clinical and patient communities.
