Swiss debate who should pay for weight-loss injections

Growing demand for weight-loss injections in Switzerland has raised concerns about health insurance costs and prompted calls for tighter coverage rules, SRF reports.

Health insurers cover the drugs only for people with a body mass index of at least 35, or at least 28 if they also have conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Critics say the injections are contributing to rising premiums.

SVP parliamentarian Mike Egger wants the eligibility threshold raised so patients must first try other measures. He says the drugs are being prescribed too easily to people who are not severely overweight, while exempting patients with conditions such as diabetes from his proposal. Egger also says the medication costs the system 160 million francs and that many patients stop treatment quickly because of side effects.

Prio.Swiss, the umbrella organisation for Swiss health insurers, also says the injections are prescribed too readily. Its communications chief, Martina Wagner, says basic insurance should continue to pay for them when requirements for effectiveness, suitability and cost-effectiveness are met.

Family doctor Jawid Jalal, who practises general internal medicine at Medix, says demand is rising both among people with obesity seeking to lose weight and among those seeking treatment for lifestyle reasons. He rejects claims that the drugs are prescribed carelessly, saying clear rules govern reimbursement and leave doctors little discretion.

Health economist Simon Wieser says focusing only on the cost of the drugs overlooks the wider financial impact of excess weight. In 2022, related illnesses generated 3.7 billion francs in healthcare costs, while lower productivity led to a further 2.9 billion francs in lost income. Wieser argues that treatment could reduce future costs by preventing illness and improve patients’ quality of life.

Esther Esposito, 72, has injected herself with Ozempic once a week for six years. She has type 2 diabetes and weighed 120 kilograms before starting treatment. She says the change has given her “more confidence in life” and made her feel more present.