Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro: Why Ireland is struggling to fund the new weight-loss drugs

New weight-loss drugs promise transformative benefits, but soaring demand and massive cost projections leave Ireland facing difficult funding choices

One advocate said: 'If you treat obesity, you effectively prevent other cardiorenal metabolic diseases'. Picture: iStock

Weight-loss wonder drugs have had quite a week. 

First, they were described as a great source of hope by the WHO (World Health Organization) but, within days, some were labelled as too expensive for the public health system in Ireland.