Italy debates public funding for pricey weight-loss drugs amid rising obesity
Obesity is climbing in Italy and demand for semiglutide drugs like Ozempic has surged, but the national health service still only reimburses them for diabetes treatment.
Italy, once famed for its Mediterranean diet, has seen obesity steadily increase over three decades, with WHO noting its children as among the most overweight in Europe. Private demand for semiglutide-based medicines, including Ozempic, has exploded, rising almost ten-fold between 2020 and 2024 and continuing to grow, causing shortages for diabetic patients. The national health service currently funds Ozempic only for type-2 diabetes, offering a copayment as low as €5, while weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro must be purchased out-of-pocket at prices up to €700 per month.
In October 2025 Italy passed the “Pella” law, recognizing obesity as a chronic disease and allocating €800,000 for 2026 and €1.2 million annually thereafter, but an implementing decree has not yet been issued. Aifa has ruled that full public coverage would be prohibitively expensive, though it is considering partial reimbursements for high-risk groups, a model France is testing with a 65 % subsidy. Regional authorities like Lombardy have announced plans to cap drug prices by the end of 2026, but the measure remains pending, leaving most Italians to bear the full cost of weight-loss medication.
Why it matters
The story highlights a growing health crisis and the challenge of financing expensive obesity treatments in Italy.
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