Weekly weight loss injections costing €200 each are currently not covered by Ireland's HSE. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics estimates that making these jabs widely accessible would increase the national drug budget from €4 billion to €10 billion, leading to serious eligibility considerations. It is anticipated that only those with a BMI of 40 or higher may qualify. The conversation around these injections is shifting to include cardiovascular benefits, especially as alternative treatments are developed, drawing attention to the need for honest discussions about drug approval timelines by pharmaceutical companies.
Mr Barry said around one million people in Ireland are estimated to have a BMI over 30 and many of these could potentially benefit from the jabs. "Making them available to this number of people is unaffordable and not going to happen," he told the annual general meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).
Mr Barry emphasized that the cardiovascular benefits will have to be taken into account when assessing the drugs. He added that the discussion may quickly move from weight loss to cardiovascular disease prevention, considering the ongoing advancements in treatment options.
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