# Ozempic Australia: PBS Rules, Cost and Weight Loss (2026)

Source: https://www.dietglp.com/blog/ozempic-australia/
Published: 2026-10-27
Keywords: ozempic australia, ozempic australia pbs, ozempic australia cost, ozempic australia price, how much is ozempic in australia, is ozempic available in australia, ozempic australia weight loss, is ozempic available in australia for weight loss, ozempic australia chemist warehouse, ozempic australia buy, ozempic australia online, where to buy ozempic in australia, ozempic australia side effects, ozempic australia dosage

**TL;DR:** Ozempic (semaglutide) is approved in Australia for adults with type 2 diabetes, and on the PBS it costs a general patient at most $25 a script ($7.70 with a concession card) when the PBS rules are met. For weight loss alone it is off-label and not on the PBS, so you pay a private price set by the pharmacy, and Wegovy is the semaglutide brand the TGA approved for weight management. A Wegovy PBS listing for people with heart disease and a BMI of 35 or more is back before the PBAC in November 2026. While you sort out access, [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) helps you protect muscle with one protein target and one 20-minute workout a day.

Can you get Ozempic in Australia, and what will it cost you? **Yes. Ozempic (semaglutide) is approved by the TGA for adults with type 2 diabetes, and on the PBS a general patient pays no more than $25 per script in 2026. If you want it only for weight loss, it is off-label, it is not on the PBS, and you pay a private price set by the pharmacy.** The semaglutide brand approved here for weight management is Wegovy, and it is not on the PBS yet either.

Here is how the rules work in late 2026, in plain English.

## Ozempic Australia PBS: who pays $25

The PBS lists Ozempic pens for **type 2 diabetes** as a "streamlined authority" item. That means your doctor must confirm you meet the PBS criteria for type 2 diabetes when writing the script. They do not need to call for approval.

| PBS detail | What the PBS item page shows |
|---|---|
| Brand | Ozempic (Novo Nordisk) |
| PBS indication | Diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| Authority type | Streamlined authority |
| Pack | 1 pen (3 mL), up to 5 repeats |
| Government price per pen (DPMQ) | $131.40 |
| Most a general patient pays (from 1 Jan 2026) | $25.00 |
| Most a concession card holder pays | $7.70 |

The $25 cap is new. Under the Cheaper Medicines changes, the general PBS co-payment dropped from $31.60 to $25 on 1 January 2026. It will be indexed each year from 2027. The concession amount stays at $7.70 until 2030. A brand premium can still apply on some medicines.

## Is Ozempic available in Australia for weight loss?

Ozempic is not approved in Australia for weight loss. A doctor can prescribe it "off-label" using their judgement, but:

- It must be a **private** script, not PBS.
- You pay what the pharmacy charges.
- During the long shortage that ran from 2022 through 2025, the TGA asked doctors and pharmacists to save Ozempic for people with type 2 diabetes. Check the TGA shortage database for today's status before you rely on supply.

If weight management is your goal, the drugs the TGA has approved for it include **Wegovy** (semaglutide) and **Mounjaro** (tirzepatide). Wegovy is the same ingredient as Ozempic with a weight management label and higher top doses. Our [Wegovy vs Ozempic guide](/blog/wegovy-vs-ozempic/) explains the difference. The TGA has also approved Wegovy as a daily tablet; see our [Wegovy pill Australia guide](/blog/wegovy-pill-australia/) for launch timing and cost.

## Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Mounjaro in Australia

| Medicine | Approved in Australia for | On the PBS? | How you pay for weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic (semaglutide) | Type 2 diabetes | Yes, type 2 diabetes only | Private script, off-label |
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | Weight management | Not yet; back at PBAC November 2026 | Private script |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Type 2 diabetes and weight management | Not for weight management | Private script |

Mounjaro's PBS bid for type 2 diabetes has also ended, and our [Mounjaro PBS guide](/blog/mounjaro-pbs/) explains why and lists private prices by dose.

## Wegovy PBS news: what is happening in November 2026

This is the part most Australians are waiting on.

- **November 2025:** The PBAC recommended listing Wegovy for adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity, on condition of a lower price and a risk-sharing deal.
- **January 2026:** Health Minister Mark Butler said the government would work with Novo Nordisk to list it. The ABC reported that more than 400,000 Australians pay market prices for GLP-1 drugs, at roughly $4,000 to $5,000 a year.
- **November 2026:** A revised submission is on the PBAC agenda. It covers adults with a prior heart attack or stroke, or symptoms from peripheral artery disease, and a BMI of at least 35.
- **Today:** The PBS medicine status page, updated 23 October 2026, says the listing "has not yet occurred."

So even if it passes, most people taking semaglutide only for weight loss would still pay privately. We will update this guide when the PBAC outcome is published.

## How much is Ozempic in Australia on a private script?

There is no single price. Each pharmacy sets its own private price, so a pen can cost different amounts at Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, an independent chemist or a telehealth pharmacy. Two tips:

1. **Ask for a private quote** before you hand over the script.
2. **Compare the total for a month**, not just the pen price, because how long a pen lasts depends on your prescribed dose. Our [semaglutide dosage chart](/blog/semaglutide-dosage-chart/) shows how pen strengths line up with doses. Your dose itself is set by your prescriber.

One more change to know: the TGA says the old 1.5 mL Ozempic 0.25 mg/0.5 mg pen was replaced by a 3 mL pen, with the old one leaving the market at the end of 2025. If your pen looks different, that may be why.

## Where to buy Ozempic in Australia safely

Semaglutide is prescription-only. The safe path is a doctor (in person or telehealth) plus an Australian pharmacy.

- **No compounded copies.** Since 1 October 2024, the TGA has banned pharmacists from compounding GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, citing safety concerns and reports of harm.
- **No overseas or social media pens.** The TGA has warned about counterfeit Ozempic-labelled pens and fake semaglutide vials in Australia. These can contain the wrong drug or no drug at all.
- **Watch the ads.** Prescription medicines cannot be advertised to the public in Australia, so a site pushing "Ozempic for weight loss" deals is a red flag.

For more on what has been pulled from shelves, see our [semaglutide recall guide](/blog/semaglutide-recall/).

## Ozempic side effects in Australia

The ingredient is the same worldwide, so the side effects are too. The most common are stomach and gut effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain. They are most likely when a dose goes up. Our guide to [managing nausea on Ozempic](/blog/managing-nausea-on-ozempic/) has food tips that help. Severe stomach pain that does not go away, signs of an allergic reaction, or if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy: talk to your doctor straight away.

## Protect muscle while you lose weight

Whatever you pay for semaglutide, the weight you lose is not all fat. Studies on GLP-1 drugs show a real share can come from lean mass, which is why protein and strength work matter. Aim to spread protein over the day and lift two or three times a week. Our [beginner strength program](/blog/beginner-strength-program-glp1/) needs no gym.

[Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) turns that into one daily protein target, one 20-minute workout and one Shape Score, so you can see if you are losing fat and keeping muscle.

## The bottom line

- Type 2 diabetes and PBS criteria met: Ozempic costs you at most $25 a script ($7.70 concession).
- Weight loss only: Ozempic is off-label and private. Wegovy and Mounjaro are the approved weight options, and both are private for weight loss today.
- Wegovy PBS: back before the PBAC in November 2026 for people with heart disease and a BMI of 35 or more.
- Never buy compounded, overseas or social media pens.

If you live in Ireland, our [Wegovy Ireland guide](/blog/wegovy-ireland/) covers the HSE side. And whichever drug you use, [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) keeps your protein and training on track so the scale drop is mostly fat.

## Sources

- [PBS item 14846J: Ozempic semaglutide 0.68 mg/mL pen](https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/14846J)
- [PBS item 14844G: Ozempic, first PBS prescription](https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/14844G)
- [PBS medicine status: Wegovy (semaglutide), November 2026 PBAC meeting](https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicinestatus/document/1650.html)
- [Department of Health: PBS co-payments](https://www.health.gov.au/cheaper-medicines/pbs-co-payments)
- [ABC News: Wegovy to be subsidised for Australians with severe obesity (12 Jan 2026)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-12/wegovy-to-be-added-to-pbs/106218104)
- [TGA: Update on the GLP-1 RA pharmacy compounding changes](https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/update-glucagon-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-glp-1-ras-pharmacy-compounding-changes)
- [TGA: New presentation of Ozempic 0.25 mg/0.5 mg pre-filled pens](https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages-and-supply-disruptions/medicine-shortages/medicine-shortage-alerts/new-presentation-ozempic-semaglutide-025-mg05-mg-pre-filled-pens)
- [TGA: Counterfeit semaglutide vials](https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety-monitoring-and-information/safety-alerts/counterfeit-semaglutide-vials)
- [RACGP newsGP: Mounjaro expanded to include weight management](https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/mounjaro-expanded-to-include-weight-management)


## Frequently asked questions

**Q: Is Ozempic on the PBS in Australia?**

A: Yes, for type 2 diabetes only. Ozempic pens are listed on the PBS as a streamlined authority item for type 2 diabetes. From 1 January 2026, a general patient pays at most $25 per PBS script and a concession card holder pays at most $7.70. It is not PBS-listed for weight loss.

**Q: How much is Ozempic in Australia without the PBS?**

A: It depends on the pharmacy. A private (non-PBS) script is priced by each pharmacy, so the cost per pen varies between chains and independents. For reference, the government price for one Ozempic pen on the PBS item is $131.40. Ask the pharmacy for a private quote before you fill it.

**Q: Is Ozempic available in Australia for weight loss?**

A: Not as an approved use. The TGA approved Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. A doctor can still prescribe it off-label for weight loss, but you pay privately. Wegovy, which has the same ingredient, is the semaglutide brand approved in Australia for weight management. Mounjaro is also approved for weight management.

**Q: Can I buy Ozempic at Chemist Warehouse?**

A: Only with a valid prescription. Semaglutide is a prescription-only medicine in Australia, so any pharmacy, including large chains, can dispense it only against a script. Prices for private scripts can differ between pharmacies, so it is fair to compare.

**Q: Can I buy Ozempic online in Australia?**

A: You can use a telehealth doctor and an Australian pharmacy that delivers, but you still need a real prescription. Do not buy pens or vials from overseas sites or social media. The TGA has warned about counterfeit Ozempic-labelled pens and fake semaglutide vials, and pharmacies have not been allowed to compound GLP-1 copies since 1 October 2024.

**Q: Will Wegovy be on the PBS?**

A: Possibly, for a narrow group. The PBAC recommended Wegovy in November 2025 for adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 35 or more, and the Health Minister said in January 2026 the government would work to list it. A revised submission is on the November 2026 PBAC agenda. As of the PBS status page updated 23 October 2026, it is not listed yet.