A Quebec mother who used semaglutide to manage obesity said in October 2024 that the treatment improved her mobility and helped her lose 22 pounds over 30 weeks, but cost her nearly $500 each month. Her experience became part of a wider debate over whether provincial drug coverage treated obesity as a chronic disease.
A personal result, not a universal promise
Tamra Canty-Currie of Île-Perrot described living with obesity and trying other approaches before receiving the medication. She said the weight loss helped her move more easily and participate in daily life with her family.
One patient’s outcome cannot predict another’s. Weight change depends on dose, health conditions, tolerability, nutrition, activity and the duration of treatment. Coverage decisions should use clinical evidence and cost-effectiveness research rather than testimonials alone.
Why the price mattered
Canty-Currie paid out of pocket because Quebec’s public plan did not cover her use under its diabetes criteria. For a household, a recurring bill approaching $6,000 a year can make continued treatment impossible even when a clinician believes it is helping.
Stopping a long-term therapy may lead to weight regain, although individual experiences vary. That possibility makes a short, privately financed trial a poor substitute for a sustainable treatment plan.
Different drugs and indications
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in products marketed for different approved uses and doses. Ozempic is widely associated with type 2 diabetes, while a semaglutide product for chronic weight management is marketed separately. A product’s authorization, provincial benefit status and a patient’s eligibility are distinct questions.
Patients should not buy prescription medicine from an unverified online seller or change dosage without medical supervision. Product shortages can also affect people who need a particular formulation for an approved indication.
Benefits must be weighed with risks
Common adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal discomfort. Some people have contraindications or need monitoring because of other conditions and medicines. A prescriber should explain risks, expected benefits, alternatives and when urgent assessment is needed.
Weight is only one health measure. Blood pressure, blood sugar, sleep, mobility, mental well-being and the ability to sustain treatment may all matter. Reporting should avoid before-and-after language that implies thinness alone defines success.
The case for public coverage
Advocates argued that obesity should be recognized and treated as a chronic disease rather than a failure of willpower. Physician Yves Robitaille said the condition warranted the same serious approach as other long-term illnesses. They also questioned a system that might fund bariatric surgery while restricting access to medicines that could help some patients earlier.
Public plans must decide which patients benefit enough to justify limited budgets. A fair policy could use evidence-based clinical criteria, require follow-up and negotiate prices, rather than either covering every request automatically or excluding treatment categorically.
Equity and stigma
When only people with substantial disposable income can maintain therapy, access depends on wealth. At the same time, expanding coverage without primary-care capacity could leave patients receiving prescriptions without nutrition support, monitoring or help with side effects.
Obesity is influenced by biology, environment, medicines, income and many other factors. Blaming patients can delay care; marketing a drug as an effortless cure can also cause harm.
What the debate should resolve
Quebec needed to evaluate outcomes, safety, eligibility, price and the budget impact of long-term use. Patients needed transparent decisions and an appeal process, not shifting rules learned only at the pharmacy counter.
Canty-Currie’s account illustrated both possible benefit and financial strain. It supported a serious coverage review, while responsible medical decisions still belonged to patients and qualified clinicians using current evidence.
