The Polyendrocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia is pushing for GLP-1 medications to be added to the country’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for patients with PMOS, a lifelong hormonal condition that was formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome.
PMOS affects approximately one in eight women and can present with symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, excessive facial and body hair growth, weight gain, and hair loss. The condition carries elevated risks for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer, and currently has no cure. While GLP-1 drugs are not officially approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration specifically for treating PMOS, some physicians are already prescribing them off-label. According to a recent university study, approximately half a million Australians are regularly using weight-loss medications.
Advocates argue that access to these medications should not depend on geographic location or financial resources. Lorna Berry, a spokesperson for the advocacy group, emphasized the importance of equitable access, noting that many women cannot afford the medications, which cost several hundred dollars monthly. She indicated that both subsidized medications and increased funding for evidence-based research would be beneficial for patients living with the condition.
Medical professionals expressed more cautious perspectives. An associate professor from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians stated the college has not taken a formal position on whether GLP-1s are appropriate for PMOS management. She noted that the medications are expensive for long-term use and are unlikely to be added to the subsidy program soon, particularly for conditions like PMOS given historical patterns of excluding women’s health issues from such programs.
The regulatory landscape remains in flux. Ozempic, a GLP-1 drug, is currently listed on the benefits scheme only for diabetes treatment. Earlier negotiations regarding another medication in this drug class resulted in a recommendation last November for subsidization for patients with elevated body mass index, with further committee discussion scheduled for next month as a pharmaceutical company continues pursuing approval.
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