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Popular weight-loss drug Wegovy receives approval in New Zealand

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1 Apr 2025

NZ Herald

A popular weight-loss drug used by celebrities overseas has been approved by New Zealand’s medicine regulatory body, with its producer hoping to make it accessible “as soon as possible”.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming the move, but said the process of approving medicines in New Zealand remains too slow. The Herald understands the minister will be announcing changes to the pathway for approving new medicines later this week.

Wegovy is a semaglutide prescription injection developed by Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals. Semaglutide acts to regulate someone’s appetite to increase their feeling of fullness and reduce craving for food.

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Academic LiteratureTe Tiriti
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Decolonising outcome measurement: a systematic review of health and wellbeing measures for Māori

Decolonising outcome measurement: a systematic review of health and wellbeing measures for Māori

The objective of the study is to conduct a systematic review and methodological quality appraisal on studies reporting the development of health and wellbeing outcome measures for Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand), identify common features and processes, and critically appraise the measures using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN).

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Jun 12, 2025

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Key issues

HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

Covering developments in the provision, funding and organisation of health care services.

EQUITY

Exploring the impacts of the health system on minorities within the population, notably including Māori, Pacifica, Asians and LGBTQI.

DRUGS, DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTICS

Covering prescription medicines and medical devices.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Focusing on efforts to promote health and prevent disease through social and economic interventions.

DIGITAL HEALTH

Exploring the potential digital transformation to provide a more connected and accessible health system.

TE TIRITI

Monitoring how the health reforms and the performance of the health sector uphold Te Tiriti obligations.