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Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Semaglutide for treating T2D and obesity

alongside control groups of uncontrolled overweight beginning to compete) (Benney & Cohen, 2024) explain
T2D patients receiving DPP-4i, SGLT-2i, and other the differences in citizens’ purchasing power. In addition,
GLP-1RA. The objective goals of these studies could factors such as national economies’ weight relative to
include improvements in glycemic indices (HbA1c, their GDPs, weak or strong capital flows, cross-border
fasting, and postprandial blood glucose), body weight financial activity, and cross-country drivers of foreign
loss, and waist circumference, along with the assessment ownership of domestic debt securities, reflecting currency
of the impact of weight loss on life expectancy, quality variations, must be considered (Lane and Milesi-Ferretti,
of life, and cost outcomes (QALYs life years gained). 2018). Furthermore, the significance of international
Specific procedures for the study are proposed, including transactional factors (De Bromhead et al., 2023) should
clinical examination with patient history taking and data also be taken into account.
recording (e.g., BMI, waist-to-hip ratio), blood drawing
for calculating hematological and biochemical factors (e.g., 11. Conclusion
HbA1c, blood sugar levels, HOMA test), questionnaires for With the growing demand for new medications, both
quality of life assessment, and cost calculation templates clinical and economic studies have affirmed semaglutide
for treatment, hospitalization, and loss of workdays. After as a more effective option for individuals with T2D
statistical analysis of these control points and clinical and obesity compared to other antidiabetic therapies.
outcomes, coupled with economic benefit models of In addition, HTA, by evaluating the totality of cost-
semaglutide use (including cost-effectiveness and/or effectiveness and value elements (such as costs, risks,
cost-utility analyses along with disease incidence and and benefits), plays a crucial role in guiding decisions
demographic models), the study will aim to demonstrate regarding medication reimbursement. HTA evaluations
not only the health and clinical benefits of semaglutide in offer insights for optimizing cost allocation and improving
T2D patients but also the positive impact of the treatment access to innovative treatments, ultimately influencing
on healthcare system sustainability. The study will also fiscal data and pinpointing the need for collaboration
describe the added financial benefits of using semaglutide between state bodies to maximize public health benefits
compared to alternative diabetes drugs, as well as the while ensuring cost savings. This collaboration is essential
cost savings associated with primary (outpatient) and to align with national financial goals. Since achieving
secondary (hospital) treatment for complications of these objectives is a multi-criteria endeavor, an effective
glycemic dysregulation, reversal of blood glucose indices, fiscal policy is necessary, one that considers the impact
treatment of related health problems, and management of of T2D on healthcare systems costs (Mentis, 2023).
body weight fluctuations in the studied patient groups. Implementing such a strategy will mitigate the risk of
public health being compromised by questionable drug
10. Limitations treatment recommendations. Besides, prioritizing long-
This study is limited by several factors, including term benefits for both the health of patients with T2D
heterogeneity across different national healthcare systems and the sustainability of healthcare systems should be the
and the variation in the populations studied globally. primary focus in addressing T2D and its complications,
Furthermore, the use of different currencies and their while HTA-based pharmaceutical policy to assess the
respective purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments added therapeutic value of new treatment options should
may limit the generalizability of the economic findings also be adopted (Mentis, 2022).
derived from this review. Globally, health systems Acknowledgments
are categorized into three types: tax-funded, those
dependent on social health insurance and insurance None.
funds, and mixed systems (a combination of public
funding and private expenditures). European health Funding
systems are further divided into those financed by state None.
taxation (Beveridge type) and those financed by social
security with employee contributions (Bismarck type). Conflict of interest
In Southern European countries, the health system is The authors declare that there are no competing interests.
financed through contributions, insurance is compulsory,
and health services are provided free of charge (Mentis, Author contributions
2021). Regarding PPP, variations in currency power (with
the US dollar dominating the international currency Conceptualization: Isidoros Mentis
system, although a cluster of smaller currencies is Writing–original draft: All authors

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 28 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.8547