Key Takeaways

• The cost of a GLP-1 RA depends on the specific medication.

• In Singapore, if you take a GLP-1 RA to treat diabetes, you can use Medisave funds to pay for it. However, when it’s used for weight loss, it may not be eligible for this.

• If you have private health insurance, it may help to cover the cost of a GLP-1 RA in some cases, although this varies by plan.

• There is a government subsidy available that can help some people to pay for diabetes treatment with a specific GLP-1RA called dulaglutide.

• You may want to consider participating in a program that includes the GLP-1 RA medication along with medical supervision and support from other health professionals, such as NOVI Optimum Plus.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, commonly known as GLP-1 RAs, have been getting more and more attention in recent years. These medications mimic a natural hormone found in the body, and help to control blood sugar as well as promote weight loss. In Singapore, some GLP-1RAs are approved for treating diabetes, while others are approved for weight loss. 

Most of these medications are given by injection, either daily or weekly. There is also an option that’s taken orally in the form of a pill. The medications in this class include: 

• Semaglutide. Ozempic is a form of this drug that’s approved for treating diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for weight loss. Both are given by injection once per week. Rybelsus is an oral form of semaglutide that’s approved for treating diabetes.

• Liraglutide. Saxenda is a form of this drug that’s approved for weight loss, while Victoza is approved for diabetes. Both are given by injection once per day.

• Dulaglutide. Trulicity is a form of this drug that’s approved for treating diabetes, and is given by injection once per week.

While these medications have been shown to be effective, some patients are understandably concerned about the cost. It’s helpful to understand how much these medications cost, so you can determine whether they’ll fit into your budget. The cost of a GLP-1 RA depends on many different factors, and it’s also important to consider the cost of the medical care and other support that you’ll need along with the medication.

Cost of GLP-1 RAs

The cost of a GLP-1 RA depends on the specific medication. To give you an idea of the cost of GLP-1 RA treatment, here’s the estimated cost for a few of these medications in Singapore:

• Ozempic costs S$400 to S$500 per pen. Each pen lasts 4-6 weeks.

• Saxenda costs S$115 to S$160 per pen. Each pen lasts about 1-2.5 weeks, depending on the dosage taken.

• Rybelsus costs S$280 to S$400 per box of pills, depending on the dosage. Each box lasts about a month.

GLP-1 RAs are not available over the counter. You’ll need a doctor’s prescription in order to get access to the medication. The doctor needs to examine you and learn about your medical history, in order to determine whether a GLP-1 RA would be a safe and effective option for you. They will also need to monitor you during your treatment, to ensure that you stay safe and that any side effects are addressed. You’ll need to consider the cost of these visits to the doctor when you’re thinking about the overall cost of a GLP-1 RA.

Our NOVI Optimum Plus medical weight loss program includes a consultation with a specialist physician, as well as treatment with a GLP-1 RA, if this is deemed appropriate for you. Support from nutritionists and health coaches is also included. The program costs S$432 per month, or S$1080 for three months. The medication is included as part of this, and we don’t charge more for people taking a higher dose. We’ve chosen to make our program as cost-effective as possible, in order to help more people access this treatment.

GLP-1 RAs work better when they’re used as part of a healthy lifestyle program, which includes exercise and a healthy diet. Many people find this difficult to achieve on their own. This is why our NOVI Optimum Plus program also includes support from a team of health professionals, including nutritionists and health coaches, to help you reach your healthy lifestyle goals. In addition, your GLP-1 RA treatment will be overseen by a specialist physician, to ensure that you stay as safe as possible throughout.

If you’re using a GLP-1 RA to treat diabetes, then you can use Medisave funds to pay for it, under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP).

You may also have a private health insurance plan. These plans can vary considerably as to what they cover. In most cases, a GLP-1 RA is likely to be covered if it’s used to treat diabetes, although you’ll usually still need to pay a portion of the cost yourself. When a GLP-1 RA is being used specifically for weight loss, insurance plans are less likely to cover it, but it may be covered under some plans. If you’re unsure, you can call your insurance company and ask them to check on the specifics of your plan, so that you know what to expect. We can help our clients with this.

Current Availability of GLP-1 RAs

The number of people using GLP-1RAs has risen dramatically in recent years. Because of this increase in demand, there have recently been some shortages of some of these medications. This is a worldwide problem, affecting people in many different countries, not just Singapore. Even with a prescription, some people may find it difficult to get their GLP-1 RA, because the medications are out of stock at many pharmacies.

The companies that manufacture GLP-1 RAs are currently in the process of increasing production to meet the demand. It’s expected that the shortages will ease by the end of this year. Some of our patients are able to get their GLP-1 RAs right away, but if you do find it difficult to access your medication, you shouldn’t have to wait too much longer. As production ramps up, it should get easier to access these medications.

To protect your safety, it’s important to make sure that you get your medications from a licensed pharmacy. Some people are tempted by unlicensed internet pharmacies which claim to provide these medications, often at low prices. Unfortunately, they don’t always live up to their promises. Because these pharmacies are not regulated or overseen, they may provide a completely different medication than what you ordered. In fact, the US FDA has issued warnings about counterfeit GLP-1 RAs being sold in this way. Don’t be tempted by the claims that these online pharmacies make.

It can also be tempting to go to a compounding pharmacy, which mixes up a special preparation of a medication. However, this can easily result in problems, such as overdoses. This is because these pharmacies don’t have the equipment to test the strength of each batch of medication they make, so the strength can vary quite a bit from one batch to another. They also give you injectable medications in a vial, rather than in a pre-measured pen as the manufacturers do. You must then draw it out yourself with a syringe for injection, making it very easy to miscalculate and take the wrong dose.

GLP-1 RA treatment program in Singapore

If you’re considering the option of using a GLP-1 RA, then you may want to consider our NOVI Optimum Plus medical weight loss program. By including the cost of the medication, medical treatment by specialist physicians, and support from a team of health professionals, the program is a very cost-effective way to get access to a GLP-1 RA. You’ll need to start with a medical consultation to determine whether the medication is expected to be safe and effective for you.