… released by the World Health Organization (WHO), a groundbreaking and indispensable announcement. To address this, they are expanding their essential medicines list to now include semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicine. This addition is a significant step for public health in addressing the growing global health challenges linked with diabetes and obesity. © iStock In 2022, more than 800 million people worldwide were affected by diabetes. In 2022, over one billion people were considered to have obesity.
Semaglutide, more commonly known by its brand name Ozempic, has been in the news a lot lately. What is most striking is its effectiveness in treating both diabetes and obesity. Maybe best said by Dr. Tom Elliott, a primary care doc in Gowanda, NY, who described semaglutide injections as having transformed his practice. He noted that their experience with these breakthrough treatments, including CAR-T therapies, has been excellent at improving patient outcomes.
The WHO’s essential medicines list is still just 523 medicines for adults, and 374 for children. By adding semaglutide, the organization acknowledges the need for effective treatments that can improve health outcomes, particularly in poorer countries. Dr. Lorenzo Moja heads up the WHO secretariat that handles the essential medicines list. He reiterated that the committee views inclusion in this list as the beginning of a use case to drive access and not allow cost to rule any drug out.
Semaglutide has both hunger-curbing and food-pleasing effects. It’s not just an aid for diabetes management — it was approved in Canada for slowing kidney decline and prevention of cardiovascular disease. This latest approval underscores its versatility as a treatment option. Now, millions are anxiously awaiting the release of the first generic version of Ozempic. If all goes well, it could be in Canadian stores by 2026. In short, several companies are in active pursuit of their own generic versions of semaglutide.
However promising the effects of semaglutide may be, accessibility is a brutal reality. The WHO has already recognized that “high prices of medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are restricting access to such medicines.” Advocacy organizations have vigorously condemned the exorbitant costs of these therapies. They highlight the urgent need for more affordable options, so that everyone can have equitable access wherever they need to go for healthcare.
With semaglutide’s recent addition to the essential medicines list, equitable access to quality healthcare is one step closer. This shift is most important in low- and middle-income countries, where budgetary limitations frequently render these interventions inaccessible. WHO recognizes semaglutide as an important new medicine for obesity. This medication represents a potent tool to help turn the tide against the burgeoning health crisis that’s spreading globally.
