Weight-loss pens highlight disparity in healthcare access due to high cost

Pens used in obesity treatment have become common, but the cost of these medications prevents many Brazilian citizens from accessing them. According to Deutsche Welle (DW), this financial barrier particularly affects lower-income populations, who ironically are the ones suffering most from the disease.

Patients who cannot maintain treatment risk abandoning it or resorting to illegal products. Currently, no weight loss medication is available in the Unified Health System (SUS).

Recent data from Vigitel, provided by the Ministry of Health, indicates that 25.7% of adults in Brazil struggle with obesity. This condition can trigger other serious complications, such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular problems.

The most modern drugs demonstrate superior efficacy compared to older methods. While previous treatments resulted in a loss of 5% to 10% of body weight, medications that mimic GLP-1 action, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, can promote a reduction of up to 17%. With tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, this index can reach 22%.

However, access remains restricted. A survey conducted by NielsenIQ Brazil revealed that the pens are present in approximately 5% of Brazilian households, and in 84% of these homes, the medications generate a high or moderate financial impact on the monthly budget.

Concern over Inequality in Access

For endocrinologist Paulo Miranda, coordinator of the International Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SEBM), the disparity in access represents a global issue. He emphasizes the need for these medications to be included at an affordable cost for the public who would benefit from these treatments.

The reduction of semaglutide patents allowed new manufacturers to enter the market and contributed to price decreases. In June, the first national pen with this active ingredient, Ozivy, manufactured by EMS, was launched in retail. Furthermore, five other semaglutide-based medications obtained approval from Anvisa.

The Ministry of Health assures that increased competition should result in a significant drop in prices. Experts point to possible reductions of up to R$ 1 thousand per month in certain treatments.

However, tirzepatide remains more expensive. Treatments with Mounjaro cost between R$ 1,500 and R$ 3,000 monthly. Rachel Teixeira, an endocrinologist, warns that if the cost is prohibitive, it is better not to start the treatment, as suspension tends to cause weight to return to the initial level. She also warns that managing obesity should not be seen merely as a temporary expense.

Obesity control requires more than just medication; nutritional counseling and physical exercise are also part of the therapeutic plan and can increase total costs. Bruno Gualano, president of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (USP), points out that access to a healthy lifestyle is also unequal.

Due to the lack of resources for continuous treatment, some people end up buying pens of illicit origin. Anvisa condemns this practice, as there is no guarantee regarding the origin, purity, transport, or storage of these items.

It is concluded that, according to experts, expanding access to treatments is fundamental to preventing patients from being trapped between high pharmaceutical costs and the danger of irregular products.