Medical professionals across the country are calling for expanded coverage of weight-loss medications as obesity rates surge and treatment costs remain high. The push for China Weight-Loss Drug Insurance comes amid growing concern that many patients cannot afford long-term therapy despite rising health risks.
Obesity is China’s sixth-highest risk factor for serious illness. Health experts say that, without better access to treatment, the number of overweight or obese people could exceed 65% by 2030. China, home to about 1.4 billion people, has introduced guidelines to standardize obesity diagnosis and treatment, but weight-loss medicines are not included in the national medical insurance program.
Rising obesity burden
Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said rising obesity rates and the high cost of treatment are creating pressure on the healthcare system. “Rising obesity rates combined with the high cost of treatment drugs are straining the healthcare system, prompting physicians to address access gaps,” Huang said.
Doctors point to lifestyle changes, including unhealthy diets and less physically demanding jobs, as major drivers of weight gain. Current clinical definitions in China categorize individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 24 as overweight and 28 as obese. Obesity increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses, placing additional strain on hospitals and insurance programs.
Although government guidelines released last year aim to streamline care for obese patients, authorities have signaled no intention to add china weight-loss drugs to national insurance. Funds are instead being allocated to other healthcare priorities.
Doctors seek support
The cost of weight-loss medications remains one of the biggest barriers for patients. A year’s supply from one manufacturer can cost as much as 35,040 yuan, or about half of last year’s average annual wage for urban private-sector employees. As a result, many patients hesitate to remain on involving any China Weight-Loss Drug regimen.
Shao Xinyu, an endocrinologist in Suzhou, said insurance coverage would significantly expand access. “If you are able to put them in medical insurance, you can help patients, help considerably more impoverished patients to persevere,” Shao said. He supports coverage for patients with a BMI above 32.5 without other conditions, and lower thresholds for those with severe health complications.
Some doctors have stepped in personally to support patients. Jin Jie, an endocrinologist in the coastal county of Ninghai, said she purchased medication for a patient who struggled to find work due to obesity. She said many patients stop treatment early because of the financial burden, even when China Weight-Loss Drug options are clinically effective.
Cardiologist Zhang Yuqing in Beijing said GLP-1 drugs, a class of widely used china weight-loss Drug therapies, should be subsidized for obese patients with comorbidities. These medicines are often prescribed for individuals with multiple, serious health issues. The National Healthcare Security Administration did not respond to a request for comment.
Market outlook
China has several domestic producers of chia weight-loss drugs, including Innovent Biologics, Huadong Medicine, and Shanghai Benemae Pharmaceutical. However, market transparency remains limited, and growth has lagged expectations in the broader China Weight-Loss Drug sector.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, has struggled to expand its obesity drug portfolio in China. Chief Executive Officer Mike Doustdar said the company never launched earlier versions of its obesity treatments in the country, which has slowed adoption. He also noted the challenge of increasing competition. “If you have a mega brand, then it’s a very different picture,” he said.
Analysts expect competition to increase next year when a key patent for Wegovy expires. Drugmakers such as CSPC Pharmaceutical and Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic Biopharmaceutical are developing their own versions of the treatment. Increased competition from generic manufacturers may eventually reduce prices, even without government subsidies benefiting the China Weight-Loss Drug market.
Goldman Sachs analysts wrote that single-target GLP-1 drugs without clear differentiation may face significant price pressure once generics enter the market. Doctors say lower prices, whether achieved through insurance coverage or market competition, will be essential to reducing obesity rates over the long term.
As China’s healthcare system prepares for a rise in obesity-related illness, medical professionals continue to push for affordable and sustained access to China Weight-Loss Drug therapies.. The debate over insurance coverage highlights the growing urgency of managing one of the country’s most significant public health challenges.
