Novo Nordisk requests HSE to cover Wegovy on medical card 

Danish firm Novo Nordisk has applied to Ireland's health service to add Wegovy to the State’s medical card and community drug schemes. File picture

The makers of obesity drug Wegovy have submitted a full request to the HSE for it to be covered on medical cards and other drug payment schemes.

So far only one obesity treatment — Saxenda — is covered for patients struggling with this condition. Others are also under assessment. 

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which also makes Ozempic, began the assessment last year and earlier this week made its final submission.

The HSE’s national centre for pharmacoeconomics is responsible for assessing the value for money of any new medications. It has to balance proven health benefits and the financial cost.

Wegovy’s main ingredient is semaglutide.

It was authorised for use across the EU in 2023. It was described as “effective at reducing weight in adults with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related health problem” by the European medicines agency (EMA).

After the EMA gives its approval, pharma companies must apply separately to EU countries for local reimbursement. 

A Novo Nordisk spokeswoman in Ireland described this week’s development as “a milestone in progressing this reimbursement application”.

She said the process “takes approximately 18 weeks to complete”. Up to five more weeks may be added. 

It applied for Wegovy to be covered for patients under the State’s medical card and community drug schemes.

While Ozempic also contain semaglutide, it is only funded in Ireland for Type 2 Diabetes patients and not for obesity management on its own.

It is covered for people with a medical card and on the long-term illness scheme.

Fake drugs 

The huge demand for these medicines has seen a black market of fake and illegal products spring up across Europe including in Ireland.

Just a few months ago Irish medicines regulator, the HPRA, warned illegal weight-loss products pose a serious risk to public health.

The Novo Nordisk spokeswoman said it works closely with the HPRA to “raise awareness about and combat the manufacturing and spread of unauthorised, unlawful and unsafe semaglutide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and semaglutide medicines”.

• Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent