SA’s National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC) has prioritised a review of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicines, signalling a potential shift in national strategies for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. – Business Day (1 Dec 2025)
The review will assess whether these drugs—already on the World Health Organisation’s essential medicines list for diabetes and recommended for long-term obesity treatment—should be added to South Africa’s Essential Medicines List. According to Deputy Director-General for Primary Healthcare Jeanette Hunter, affordability will be a key factor in the evaluation. Three GLP-1 therapies are currently approved locally—liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide—but access remains limited, with medical schemes offering minimal coverage and most patients paying out of pocket. Broader public-sector access could significantly expand treatment options amid SA’s escalating obesity crisis, where 67% of women, 31% of men and 13% of children are overweight or obese.