Ozempic cost in Australia: $25 on the PBS, $145 to $171 privately
Ozempic costs $25 a script on the PBS ($7.70 concession) for eligible type 2 diabetes, or about $145 to $171 a pen privately. PBS rules and how to get it.
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In short
- Ozempic costs $25 per script on the PBS, or $7.70 with a concession card, for people with type 2 diabetes who meet the PBS criteria.
- On a private script, one Ozempic pen costs about $145 to $171 and lasts about four weeks, roughly $1,900 to $2,200 a year.
- Ozempic is not PBS subsidised or TGA approved for weight loss, so a script for weight loss is private and you pay the full price.
From Vively member data
Ozempic costs $25 per script on the PBS, or $7.70 with a concession card, if you have type 2 diabetes and meet the PBS criteria. On a private (non-PBS) script, one pen costs about $145 to $171 at Australian pharmacies, and a pen lasts about four weeks. That works out to roughly $1,900 to $2,200 a year privately, compared with about $325 a year on the PBS at the general rate.
Prices below were checked on 3 November 2026 against the PBS schedule for November 2026 and pharmacy listings. They change, so ask your pharmacy for a quote before you fill a private script.
Ozempic cost in Australia
| How it's supplied | You pay | Lasts about | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBS, general patientType 2 diabetes, PBS criteria met | $25.00 | 1 pen, 4 weeks | Type 2 diabetes, PBS criteria met |
| PBS, concession cardPension, health care or DVA card | $7.70 | 1 pen, 4 weeks | Pension, health care or DVA card |
| PBS, two-pen scriptStable on treatment, prescriber's call | $25.00 | 2 pens, 8 weeks | Stable on treatment, prescriber's call |
| Private script, 0.25/0.5 mg or 1 mg penAnyone with a private prescription | $145 to $171 | 1 pen, 4 weeks | Anyone with a private prescription |
| Private script, 2 mg penNot on the PBS | Ask your pharmacy | 1 pen, 4 weeks | Not on the PBS |
Ozempic cost per month and per year
- PBS, general: $25 a month, about $325 a year (13 pens). If your doctor prescribes the two-pen PBS item, it's $25 every two months.
- PBS, concession: $7.70 a month, about $100 a year.
- Private: about $145 to $171 a month, roughly $1,900 to $2,200 a year, plus any delivery fee.
The PBS Safety Net can lower the cost further once your family's PBS spending for the year passes $1,748.20 (general) or $277.20 (concession).
Who can get Ozempic on the PBS
Ozempic is PBS-listed only for type 2 diabetes. Your doctor needs an Authority approval for the first PBS script, and you must meet all of these:
- You're taking at least one of metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, and your diabetes hasn't responded well enough to it. The PBS defines that as an HbA1c above 7% despite that treatment.
- An SGLT2 inhibitor (a "flozin" such as empagliflozin or dapagliflozin) didn't work well enough, or you couldn't keep taking it because of side effects or a contraindication.
- You're not also getting PBS-subsidised treatment for diabetes with an SGLT2 inhibitor, a "gliptin" (DPP4 inhibitor) or another GLP-1 medicine.
Ozempic isn't PBS-subsidised for weight loss. If a doctor prescribes it for anything other than type 2 diabetes, that's a private script and you pay the full private price.
How to get Ozempic in Australia
- See a doctor. Ozempic is a prescription-only medicine, so you can't buy it over the counter or online without a script. Your GP is the usual starting point.
- Bring recent results. For a PBS script your doctor needs your HbA1c and a record of the diabetes medicines you've tried. If you don't have a recent HbA1c, your doctor can order one.
- Your doctor decides PBS or private. If you meet the criteria, they apply for the Authority online and the script is $25. If not, they may write a private script, which is their clinical decision.
- Fill it at any pharmacy. PBS prices are the same everywhere. Private prices vary between pharmacies, so it's worth comparing.
The TGA has approved Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, including people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It isn't approved for weight loss. Wegovy, another semaglutide brand, is the one approved for weight management.
Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Mounjaro: cost in Australia
| Medicine | On the PBS? | Private price per pen | TGA approved for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic (semaglutide)Type 2 diabetes | Yes, type 2 diabetes only | $145 to $171 | Type 2 diabetes |
| Wegovy (semaglutide)Weight management, heart risk, MASH | No | $249.99 to $369.99 | Weight management, heart risk, MASH |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide)Type 2 diabetes, weight management, sleep apnoea | No | $279.99 to $689.99 | Type 2 diabetes, weight management, sleep apnoea |
Wegovy: the PBAC recommended a PBS listing in November 2025 for adults with established heart disease and a BMI of 35 or more. As of 1 November 2026 it hasn't been listed, and the listing process hasn't moved past the documentation stage. Until it is, Wegovy is private only.
Mounjaro: the PBAC recommended it for type 2 diabetes in March 2026, but the manufacturer declined the government's price terms and the listing process has stopped. See our Mounjaro cost guide for every dose.
Why your price can differ
- Private prices aren't fixed. Each pharmacy sets its own, and some add a cold-chain delivery fee (Chemist2U charges $20).
- The 2 mg pen isn't on the PBS. The current product information allows 2 mg weekly for blood glucose control, but the PBS only lists the 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens. We couldn't find a published retail price for the 2 mg pen, so ask your pharmacy.
- The old 1.5 mL pen is gone. The TGA lists the 1.5 mL 0.25/0.5 mg pen as discontinued, replaced by a 3 mL pen with the same doses. The two are interchangeable on the PBS.
- Stock varies. There's no current Ozempic shortage on the TGA's database, but a single pharmacy can still run out.
Ozempic doses and pens
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection. The usual start is 0.25 mg a week for four weeks, then 0.5 mg. Your doctor can increase it to 1 mg after at least four weeks, and then to 2 mg after at least four more weeks if your blood glucose needs it. Each pen covers about four weeks at the usual doses. Once in use, a pen keeps for 6 weeks (42 days) below 30°C or in the fridge.
What the trials found
In SUSTAIN-1, adults with type 2 diabetes on diet and exercise alone took Ozempic 0.5 mg or 1 mg, or a placebo, for 30 weeks. HbA1c fell by an average of 1.45 and 1.55 percentage points on Ozempic, compared with 0.02 on placebo. Average weight loss was 3.73 kg and 4.53 kg, compared with 0.98 kg on placebo. These are group averages: some people lose more, some less.
Side effects to know about
Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation are the most common, especially when the dose goes up. Get urgent help for severe ongoing stomach pain (a sign of pancreatitis), signs of a severe allergic reaction, or sudden vision loss. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, your doctor may adjust it because the combination can cause low blood glucose. Tell the team before any procedure with anaesthesia or sedation. Ozempic isn't used in pregnancy, and the product information says to stop at least two months before a planned pregnancy.
Tests that go with Ozempic
Your doctor will usually track your HbA1c and fasting glucose, and often your kidney function. Australian labs report HbA1c in mmol/mol, while the PBS criteria use %. Our HbA1c calculator converts between them. Our guide to weight loss medication in Australia covers the other options.
Vively is an Australian health membership. Your Baseline Health Check is a blood test covering 70+ markers, including metabolic markers. A GP in our network signs off your request, and a practitioner talks you through your results.
Ozempic is a prescription medicine. Talk to your doctor about whether it suits you, and before changing any dose.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Ozempic in Australia per month?
$25 a month on the PBS ($7.70 with a concession card) if you have type 2 diabetes and meet the PBS criteria. On a private script it's about $145 to $171 a month, since one pen lasts about four weeks.
How much does Ozempic cost without the PBS?
About $145 to $171 per pen at the pharmacies we checked (October and November 2026), plus any delivery fee. Private prices aren't regulated, so they vary between pharmacies.
Is Ozempic on the PBS for weight loss?
No. The PBS only subsidises Ozempic for type 2 diabetes that meets set criteria. A script for weight loss is private, and Ozempic isn't TGA approved for weight loss.
How much is the Ozempic 2 mg pen in Australia?
The 2 mg pen isn't on the PBS, so it's private only. We couldn't find a published Australian retail price, so ask your pharmacy for a quote.
How do I get prescribed Ozempic in Australia?
See your GP. For a PBS script you'll need type 2 diabetes with an HbA1c above 7% despite metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, and an SGLT2 inhibitor that didn't work or that you couldn't take. Your doctor applies for the Authority online.
Is Ozempic cheaper at Chemist Warehouse or Priceline?
On the PBS, no: it's $25 (or $7.70 with a concession card) at every pharmacy. Private prices differ between pharmacies, so compare a few before you fill a private script.
Is Wegovy on the PBS?
Not yet. The PBAC recommended it in November 2025 for adults with established heart disease and a BMI of 35 or more, but it wasn't listed as of 1 November 2026. Private pens cost $249.99 to $369.99.
Can you buy Ozempic over the counter in Australia?
No. Ozempic is prescription only. Products sold online as "semaglutide" without a prescription aren't approved and may not contain what the label says.
Sources
- PBS, semaglutide item 12075M and items 14844G, 14846J, 14163K, 15311W, 15322K (DPMQ, patient charge, Authority restriction text for type 2 diabetes, PBS schedule 1 November 2026; checked 3 Nov 2026).
- PBS, current patient fees and charges ($25.00 general, $7.70 concessional, Safety Net thresholds from 1 January 2026; checked 3 Nov 2026).
- PBS medicine status: Wegovy, established cardiovascular disease with obesity and Mounjaro, type 2 diabetes (current at 1 November 2026).
- Ozempic Australian Product Information, Novo Nordisk, revised 25 September 2026 (indications, dosing including 2 mg, storage).
- TGA, medicine shortage and discontinuation records: semaglutide (checked 3 Nov 2026).
- Wegovy Australian Product Information, Novo Nordisk (indications).
- Chemist Warehouse, Ozempic and Wegovy private prices (October 2026); Chemist2U, How much does Ozempic cost? (checked 3 Nov 2026).
- Sorli C, et al. SUSTAIN-1. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 2017.
- TGA, GLP-1 medicines and a rare vision disorder.
The Baseline Health Check is a blood test covering 70+ markers at one of 3,700+ collection centres. Your dietitian goes through your results with you and builds your plan. $99 a month, no minimum term.
