Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether anti-obesity pharmacotherapies should be reclassified and reimbursed as life-saving interventions rather than lifestyle aids, based on emerging clinical and economic evidence, with a focus on the Central and Eastern European (CEE) context.
METHODS: A targeted literature and policy review was conducted using data from clinical trials (SCALE, SELECT, SURMOUNT), cost-effectiveness studies, and reimbursement frameworks across European countries. The analysis focused on the clinical impact of GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, their cost-effectiveness profiles, and alignment between clinical guidelines and payer criteria.
RESULTS: Obesity is now recognized as a chronic, relapsing condition with metabolic, genetic, and hormonal underpinnings. Recent pharmacotherapies (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide) have shown significant reductions in cardiovascular events, renal complications, and mortality—even in non-diabetic populations. Economic models consistently demonstrate favorable cost-effectiveness, particularly in high-risk groups, with potential long-term savings from avoided complications. Despite this, anti-obesity drugs remain unreimbursed or highly restricted in many health systems. Reimbursement criteria often rely on outdated indicators (e.g., BMI, HbA1c), which fail to capture cardiometabolic risk. The lack of funding for pharmacologic, behavioral, and supportive care delays intervention and increases long-term healthcare costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Anti-obesity therapies should be reclassified as life-saving, disease-modifying treatments. Policymakers and payers must align reimbursement criteria with clinical and economic evidence to enable timely, equitable access and unlock the population-level value of proactive obesity management.