Wegovy funding a ‘game changer’ but Pacific health leaders warn of equity risks

Pacific health leaders are urging caution as Pharmac considers whether to publicly fund the weight-loss drug Wegovy.

Health experts have warned that the decision could worsen health inequities for Māori and Pacific people if access is not carefully designed.

The drug-buying agency has confirmed it is seeking clinical advice, with more information expected later this month.

But Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Associate Dean Pacific at the University of Auckland, says the key question is not whether Wegovy works but who will actually benefit.

He says this could be a “game changer” for obesity and diabetes. But he warns that if it’s not targeted properly, Māori and Pacific communities, who carry the heaviest burden, will once again miss out.

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders live with diabetes, the vast majority with type 2, and Maori and Pacific people are around three times more likely to be diagnosed.

Watch Dr Collin Tukuitonga's full interview below:

Tukuitonga says the current cost of Wegovy, around $450 to $500 a month, puts it well beyond reach for many Pacific families.

“That tells me straight away that it is simply unaffordable for Māori and Pacific people, who are the very groups with the greatest burden of obesity and diabetes”.

David Hughes, Pharmac’s director of advice and assessment, told RNZ the agency is assessing how effective Wegovy is compared with current funded options. “Our expert advisers will consider its impact on individuals, whānau, caregivers, and the wider health system," he said.

Tukuitonga cautioned against seeing weight-loss drugs as a simple fix for a complex problem.

He says this shows the need for long-term support.

Professor Wayne Cutfield, a paediatric endocrinologist, says Wegovy could help severely obese teenagers already showing signs of pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, or liver disease.

Tukuitonga says the real test will be whether government policy settings ensure Pacific communities are prioritised, not left behind.

The debate intensified last week after Australia reportedly announced it would subsidise Wegovy for people with severe obesity. Australian Health Minister Mark Butler described the move as “not just a health issue, but an equity issue”.

Pharmac has not said when it will make a final decision.