Is Orlistat covered by medical insurance?

Orlistat (Orlistat) is a drug used to control obesity. Orlistat acts by reversibly inhibiting gastric and pancreatic lipase. Inactivation of lipase prevents triglyceride hydrolysis so free fatty acids cannot be absorbed. The greatest benefit of orlistat occurs when used in conjunction with diet and exercise.

Orlistat is used to treat obesity. Orlistat's effects on weight loss vary. During the one-year clinical trial, 35.5% to 54.8% of subjects lost 5% or more of their body weight, although not necessarily all of that weight was fat. Between 16.4% and 24.8% lost at least 10% body fat. After patients discontinued orlistat, a significant number of subjects regained weight, possibly as much as 35% of the weight they had lost. Studies have shown that Orlistat reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes in obese people, and the degree of reduction is roughly the same as lifestyle changes. Long-term use of Orlistat can also lead to a very modest reduction in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic blood pressure are reduced by an average of 2.5 and 1.9mmHg respectively).

The original drug of Orlistat has been marketed in China, but it has not yet passed the relevant regulations of the National Medical Insurance Bureau and entered the scope of medical insurance. There are also domestic drugs developed by other pharmaceutical companies on the market. The price of each box may be around tens of RMB, which is cheap. The price of the Indian version of Orlistat listed overseas is 120mg*84 capsules per box, which may be around a few hundred yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). The ingredients of the two drugs are basically the same, but the manufacturers are different, and patients can choose by themselves.