[Beyond the Scene] When Focusing Only on Obesity Drug Prices, You Miss What Matters

"I heard that Efe will be priced in the upper 100,000 won range. Doesn't this mean it's finally going to get cheaper?"

With the news that Hanmi Pharmaceutical is launching a domestically developed anti-obesity medication, consumers currently using Wegovy or Mounjaro are brimming with anticipation. They believe that the arrival of a new treatment in the market will expand their options and that increased competition may drive prices down.

These glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) injectable obesity treatments are non-reimbursable, costing consumers several hundred thousand won per month. Currently, Wegovy is sold at between just over 200,000 won and 400,000 won for a four-week supply depending on dosage, while Mounjaro is priced at around 300,000 won for the starting 2.5 mg dose and about 400,000 won for the 5 mg dose. If the effectiveness is similar, it is natural for consumers to seek more affordable medication. Since obesity treatment can be prolonged, and individuals with diabetes or chronic conditions may require ongoing therapy, reducing the financial burden on patients is clearly an important task.

It is already common in the domestic anti-obesity drug market for patients to directly specify which product they want. In so-called "well-known" clinics rumored to offer the lowest prices, patients choose the medication and dosage they want on a kiosk even before seeing the doctor. Sometimes, even before hearing a thorough explanation from their physician, patients request, "I'd like Wegovy," or "I'll have Mounjaro," directly stating their preferences.

However, medicines are not ordinary consumer goods. While patients may compare efficacy, prices, and potential side effects online, it is difficult for them to accurately determine which medication truly suits their health condition. The use of anti-obesity medications is not solely determined by the degree of obesity; it must also take into account comorbidities, contraindications, risk of side effects, dosage, and duration of treatment. Ultimately, even though patient information and choice are important, the final assessment of whether a medication choice is medically appropriate cannot be left entirely to the patient. The fact that these medicines are non-reimbursable only means that national health insurance does not cover their cost; it does not mean that consumers are free to choose whatever they wish.

At the same time, physicians have a responsibility to respect patient requests while also judging the medical appropriateness of their choices and properly explaining the treatment options. There is a significant difference between merely prescribing what the patient wants and using the patient's request as a starting point before explaining the benefits and risks of various options and making the final prescription decision. Physicians are not simply dispensers of patients' requests, but experts tasked with determining the best course of treatment for their patients.

While competition brought by the arrival of Efe and the resulting price drop would be welcome news for consumers, lower prices should not automatically translate into easier access to prescriptions. In fact, as accessibility to these treatments increases, management of prescriptions and usage must become even more thorough. What truly requires our careful scrutiny is not merely the price tag of anti-obesity drugs, but ensuring their prescription is based on proven efficacy and safety.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.