Francesca Rudkin: We need to make the most of Wegovy

On Thursday, Pharmac announced it has added semaglutide, better known by its brand name Wegovy, to its list of medicines suitable for future funding. It’s on the Options For Investment list which is for medications that Pharmac would like to fund if it has the budget to do so.  

Hopefully this will come about sooner than later. I’m not talking about funding it for every Tom, Dick and Harry who wants to lose a few kgs, but for the seriously obese who are dealing with all the risks and diseases that come with it - such as diabetes, renal failure, cardiovascular disease and impacts on joints.  

At this stage the criteria for funding the drug states it would be available for people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 50 and also to those with a BMI of more than 35 and at least two co-morbidities. 

Last week, an article in the NZ Herald caught my attention and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. The title of the article was: Leading causes of death by age in New Zealand. I know, it’s a cheery number. 

Now, while the when and where of our deaths is largely unknown to many of us, the data explains how we’re likely to die depending on how old we are. 

In our 20s, external injuries are the leading cause of death. These are classified as intentional - suicide, self-harm or assault - or unintentional, including falls, burns, vehicle crashes, dog bites and drownings.  

As we move into our 30s ‘all cancers’ become the leading cause of death, but in our 40s a trend emergences that stays with us until our 80s and beyond. The ‘all cancer’ group remains the leading cause of death but heart disease moves into second. As we age, suicide reduces, and the chance of dying from respiratory diseases, diabetes, or strokes also increases.  

Not hugely surprising, right? But when clearly defined by the data and in graphs, it’s a little confronting. It’s a simple way to look at how to prioritise health care, and as I found an effective motivator to encourage people to do what they can to beat the odds. 

So yes, let's fund Wegovy. Think of the impact it could have on our over-burdened health care system, and the country’s productivity. This drug could be a game changer for young people and their mental health, for those unable to work due to weight related issues, and those who could potentially end up needed a heart transplant.  

But it’s also worth starting slow. When it comes to criteria for funding the drug, we need to start with those most at risk, and who will benefit the most from it. With one in three New Zealand adults regarded as obese - being labelled obese shouldn’t be enough to qualify. Like all drugs, there are side effects and risks and more research is needed to determine long term effects.  

But hey, when you’re got a tool as powerful as this, we should be making the most of it in the most equitable manner possible.  

In the meantime, I shall be doing what I can to look after myself.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News talks'b SO.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
On Thursday, Farmac announced it has added semiglue tide better
on as its brand name would go V to its
list of medicines suitable for future funding. It's on the
Options for Investment list, which is a medication that FARMAC
would like to fund it if it has the budget
to do so. Hopefully this will come about sooner than later.
And I'm not talking about funding it for every Tom,

(00:33):
Dick and Harry who wants to lose a few kgs,
but for the seriously obests who are dealing with all
the risks and diseases that come with it, such as diabetes,
renal failure, cutovascular disease and the impact on joints. So
at this stage, the Critera criteria for funding the drug
states it would be available for people with the body
mass index of more than fifty and also to those

(00:53):
with a BMI of more than thirty five and at
least two come abilities. So last week an article in
the New Zealand Herald caught my attention and I haven't
been able to stop thinking about it. The title of
The article was leading causes of death by age in
New Zealand. I know it's a cheery number. Now, while
the when and where of our deaths is largely unknown

(01:15):
to many of us, the data explains how we're likely
to die depending on how old we are. In our twenties,
external injuries are the leading cause of death. They're classified
as intentional, so it might be suicide or self harm,
or assault or unintentional falls, burns, vehicle crashes, dog bites,
and drownings. But as we move into our thirties, all cancers,

(01:35):
I love them all together, all cancers become the leading
cause of death. But in our forties a trend emerges.
It stays with us until our eighties and beyond. The
all cancer group remains the leading cause of death, but
heart disease moves into second, and as we age, suicide
reduces and the chance of dying from respiratory diseases diabetes

(01:55):
or stroke also increases. Now, look, this is not hugely surprising, right,
but when it's clearly defined by the data and ingress
on this page to see it was a little confronting.
It is a simple way to look at how to
prioritize healthcare. And as I found an effective motivator to
encourage people to do what they can to beat the odds.

(02:17):
So yes, let's fund with GOV. Think of the impact
a good have on our overburdened health system and the
country's productivity. This drug could be a game change for
young people and their mental health, for those unable to
work due to weight related issues, and those who could
potentially end up needing a heart transplant. But it's also
worth starting slow because when it comes to criteria for
funding the drug, we need to start with those most

(02:38):
at risk who will benefit the most from it. With
one in three New Zealand adults regarded as obeste being labeled,
Obeste is not enough to qualify. Like all drugs, there
are side effects and risks, and more researchers needed to
determine long term effects. But hey, when you've got a
tool as powerful as this, we should be making the
most of it in the most equitable manner possible. In
the meantime, I should do what I can to look

(03:00):
after myself a bit better.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live and news talks. It be from nine am Sunday
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio,