<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Doctors are pushing back at a Danish company calling for its blockbuster weight-loss drug to be given to obese children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Novo Nordisk chief executive Mike Doustdar is asking the federal government to expand the taxpayer subsidy of the company's big-name drug Ozempic, but GPs say there are better options.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Doustdar said Australia has what it takes to tackle obesity, "not just treat it, but actually prevent it at scale".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-dubai-airport-hit-as-iran-targets-gulf-neighbours-keeps-stranglehold-on-oil-shipping/787cc401-96a3-42fb-842b-374f4a3fb6d1"><strong><span>Dubai airport shuts amid drone strikes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tamika-chesser-former-beauty-and-the-geek-star-gives-birth-in-prison/0d70ab0f-8ec0-4d96-ae64-43a398a8de41" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Accused killer gives birth behind bars</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Thinner people have less issues with health, and otherwise," he told the National Press Club yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Most people understand, so if you're able to help manage weight, then you actually save money elsewhere."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ozempic-australia-doctors-push-back-on-push-to-subsidise-glp1-drugs-for-more-australians/a106b9e8-73c1-4a2e-b3f6-e9dcc2501b93" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But of course, his company's product isn't free. Ozempic and other so-called GLP-1 drugs can cost more than $400 a month, and once you're on them, you're typically advised to stay on them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are expensive and there's a lot of other treatments available that might be more appropriate and a better first line," Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Michael Wright said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Currently, only people with Type 2 diabetes get subsidised access to the drugs through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Novo Nordisk claims millions more would benefit, including adolescents whose increasing rates of obesity in Western countries is affecting life expectancy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In general, I think it's a ticking bomb that our children and adolescents are right now becoming more and more obese across the world, and we need to find solutions," Doustdar said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And the first and foremost solutions are some of the things I spoke to in my speech, healthier environments, healthier schools, taking care of exercise and food intake.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But we are also, of course, making sure that our products are being tested and tried on adolescents and making sure that they're safe. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So if support and help is needed on that front, it is also available so we don't discriminate the age."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wright said "we certainly need more evidence" before going down that path, especially when the company's own advertising says Ozempic is not for children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Subsidising the category of drugs on a massive scale would likely cripple the federal health budget.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>