News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals
Public health experts call out government’s failure to act ahead of election

Australia’s public health leaders are calling on the next federal government to take decisive action on obesity, highlighting it as a critical step to protect human health and alleviate pressure on the healthcare system.
The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), which represents 2,000 public health professionals, has outlined seven key priorities ahead of this year’s federal election. Tackling obesity sits high on the agenda, as the nation grapples with what experts describe as an escalating public health crisis.
“Australia is facing immediate and long-term challenges, which places increasing strains on our healthcare system, and diminishes people’s quality of life,” said PHAA CEO, Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin.
During the 2022 election campaign, the Albanese Labor Government committed to implementing the National Preventative Health Strategy which calls for at least 5% of total health spending invested in preventive health. The last Federal Budget did not show a bold move towards this target. A mere $2 in every $100 spent on health is allocated to public health.
Adjunct Professor Slevin stressed the urgency of shifting the nation’s health focus from treatment to prevention.
“Much of the disease and ill-health in our community is preventable. We know how to address the underlying causes of many illnesses, but Australia continues to focus on treating disease, rather than investing in prevention.
“For example, obesity and overweight in 2024 surpassed tobacco as the leading cause of preventable disease in Australia. We just need action and funding secured over the short and long term,” he emphasised.
The National Obesity Strategy, developed as part of the government’s broader health framework, has so far failed to deliver tangible results. While the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified obesity prevention initiatives in Australia as highly cost-effective – with a $4 return for every $1 spent and projected annual health savings of $57 million – funding and implementation have stalled.
As Professor John Dixon, Vice President of the National Association of Clinical Obesity Services (NACOS), recently put it, “What we’ve had is a situation where people living with obesity have been shamed, blamed and told that they’re not really worthy of treatment.”
In an interview with Health Industry Hub, Cem Ozenc, Corporate Vice President & General Manager, Oceania at Novo Nordisk, confronted the stark reality of obesity as a chronic disease and shed light on the severe gaps in Australia’s approach to this escalating health crisis.
“A [National Obesity Strategy] strategy means nothing if we don’t resource it and if we don’t put the right political leadership behind it,” he stated.
Despite the availability of five TGA-registered anti-obesity medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide), none have been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for obesity and weight management.
“Medicines for chronic weight management should be recognised as important tools in our fight against obesity, which affects millions of Australians,” Tori Brown, General Manager of Eli Lilly Australia, said recently.
Adjunct Professor Slevin reiterated the broader benefits of investing in public health.
“Strengthening our nation’s public health programs will not only lead to healthier populations, but will also improve the health of our economy. We can do a lot more to promote good health, which sets us up for a healthier life as we age,” he stated.
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