KUWAIT: Kuwait has slashed prices on key weight-loss and diabetes medications starting Monday, cutting the cost of the injection “Tirzepatide” (Mounjaro) by 30 percent following a ministerial decree issued in May. Alongside this, prices for the diabetes drug “Wegovy” dropped 37.3 percent, and the obesity medication “Saxenda” was reduced by 20.8 percent—major moves to ease costs for patients battling diabetes and obesity.
In a wider effort to improve healthcare affordability, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health announced on Monday that it has reduced and approved new prices for 544 medicines and pharmaceutical products, with discounts reaching up to 78.5 percent. The ministry said 144 of these medicines now carry prices among the lowest in the Gulf region.
The price cuts cover essential drugs for a broad range of conditions, including cancer treatments, antibiotics, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, asthma, and biologic therapies for chronic diseases like arthritis, skin disorders, and colon illnesses.
These latest decisions are part of a national policy for continuous review and adjustment of drug prices to boost economic efficiency in healthcare and ensure treatments remain affordable for both citizens and residents. The ministry also said it will continue to monitor markets closely to regulate prices on essential medicines.
Earlier this year, the ministry approved pricing adjustments on nearly 1,188 medicines and pharmaceutical products, underscoring a consistent, sustainable approach to healthcare cost management. This includes the May decree that initiated the Tirzepatide price cut, alongside other reductions made in March 2025 and July and May 2024. — KUNA
