Weight-Loss Drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro Under Reviewโข for Dutch Health Insurance Coverage
The Netherlands’ Healthcare instituteโ (Zorginstituut Nederland) will โคbegin assessing this year whether to โคinclude the weight-loss medications Wegovy and Mounjaro โฃin the country’s โbasic health insurance package. The move potentiallyโ opens access to theseโ drugs for roughly โone million people,but will require a lifelong commitment to medication combined with intensive lifestyle interventions.
Currently, the institute is prioritizing evaluation for twoโฃ groups: individuals withโ aโค BMI of 30 or higher who also suffer from obesity-related illnesses likeโ heart failure, chronic kidney damage, โฃand sleep apnea, and those with a BMI of 35 or higher.โฃ Thisโ phased approach is supported by healthcare professionals,patients,and health insurers.
Theโ assessmentโค follows previous hesitation regarding Wegovy, for which the institute issued a negative reimbursement โขrecommendation โฃin 2024 due to uncertainties surrounding โside effects, long-term efficacy, and responsible implementation. Concerns also existed about whether the health benefits justified the treatment costs. The European Medicines Agency currently deems individuals withโค a BMI of 27 or higher and a weight-related health condition eligible for treatment with Wegovy or Mounjaro.
A key consideration is the necessity of โcontinued medication. Studies indicate patients regain weight upon stopping these drugs, suggestingโ lifelong use will likely be required. The estimated monthly cost per patient ranges from 250 to 450 euros.
The Healthcareโฃ Institute anticipates a multi-month assessment process, after which a recommendation will be presented to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport for a final โdecision on inclusion in the basic insurance package.