Women with PMOS should get subsidised weight-loss drugs, Australian advocates say
News Source
β’Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:00:41 GMT
π° What Happened
Women with a long-term hormone condition want cheaper weight-loss medicines. The condition is called PMOS, once known as PCOS. It affects about one in eight women. A group called POSAA wants a class of drugs called GLP-1s to be paid for by the government.
That scheme is called the PBS. Right now these drugs are not approved by the TGA to treat PMOS. Even so, some patients are given them off-label. The drugs can cost hundreds of dollars a month.
π The Backstory
PMOS has no cure and lasts for life. It can cause weight gain, extra hair on the body and face, and irregular periods. It raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. GLP-1 drugs copy a hormone that helps control blood sugar and hunger.
Ozempic is on the PBS but only for diabetes. Wegovy is being considered for obesity. About half a million Australians use weight-loss drugs regularly.
π― Why It Matters
Many women cannot afford treatment for a common condition that affects their health and daily life. A cheaper option would help them get care more easily.
Women with a long-term hormone condition want cheaper weight-loss medicines. The condition is called PMOS, once known as PCOS. It affects about one in eight women. A group called POSAA wants a class of drugs called GLP-1s to be paid for by the government.
That scheme is called the PBS. Right now these drugs are not approved by the TGA to treat PMOS. Even so, some patients are given them off-label. The drugs can cost hundreds of dollars a month.
PMOS has no cure and lasts for life. It can cause weight gain, extra hair on the body and face, and irregular periods. It raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. GLP-1 drugs copy a hormone that helps control blood sugar and hunger.
Ozempic is on the PBS but only for diabetes. Wegovy is being considered for obesity. About half a million Australians use weight-loss drugs regularly.
Many women cannot afford treatment for a common condition that affects their health and daily life. A cheaper option would help them get care more easily.