A medicine can be approved for use without being publicly funded. Separate the prescribing decision from the payment questions.
Approval and funding are different decisions
Wegovy and Mounjaro have Medsafe approval for weight loss in New Zealand, but neither is publicly funded for weight loss. Medsafe assesses medicine quality, safety and effectiveness; Pharmac decides public funding.
When you hear that a medicine is “approved”, ask which decision is being described. For your own planning, keep three questions separate: can this medicine be used for this purpose, is it suitable for me, and who pays?
| Question | What it means for your planning |
|---|---|
| Is it approved? | A regulatory decision about the medicine. |
| Is it suitable for me? | An individual discussion with your clinician. |
| Is it funded? | Whether public funding is available. |
| What will I pay? | The fees and pharmacy quote for your own care. |
What the investment list means
Pharmac has added Wegovy for weight loss to its Options for Investment List. This is not a funding start date. Pharmac says it cannot say when, or whether, a medicine will be funded.
Keep your present budget based on the costs you would actually pay. If you hear about a future funding announcement, ask whether it is a proposal, a recommendation or a confirmed decision, and whether it applies to your situation.
Use a separate line in your notes for an unanswered funding question, rather than subtracting a possible subsidy from the amount you need to budget.
Separate medicine costs from appointment fees
If Wegovy is prescribed, you need to pay for it. Pharmac does not set the private price; ask your pharmacy for a quote.
We offer initial and follow-up appointments with our clinical team and a dietitian. Consultation fees are separate questions to confirm when planning care.
- Ask what your initial appointment includes.
- Confirm the expected review appointments and their fees.
- Ask the pharmacy which prescribed strength and supply period its quote covers.
- Ask about any delivery charge if you want medicine delivered.
- Record which amounts are confirmed and which you still need to check.
Prepare a useful cost conversation
Bring the amounts you have been quoted, their dates and the period each one covers. A weekly, monthly or per-pack figure is only useful when you know what it includes.
“My consultation quote is ____. My pharmacy quote covers ____ and costs ____. I still need to confirm ____. The part of this plan I am concerned about is ____.”
If affordability is a concern, make it part of the consultation. You can also use our treatment comparison guide to organise the other questions you want answered alongside cost.
Ask about the cost of your care
Contact us about appointment fees and what your consultation covers. Keep your pharmacy quote alongside those details when planning the next step.
Ask our team about fees