Health Equity for All: A Clinician-Led Call for Change

Health Equity for All – How Dr Angela Kwong and the Obesity Advocacy Group Are Leading the Way

This week, The Australian newspaper featured the work of the Obesity Advocacy Group on its front page — a significant milestone for obesity care and policy in Australia.

Among those leading this charge is our Founder, Dr Angela Kwong, who serves as the NSW State Lead for the RACGP Specific Interests Group in Obesity Management. She and a collective of GPs, endocrinologists, and public health experts have authored Health Equity for All — a bold, clinician-led proposal calling on the Federal Government to fund effective obesity medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Why Now?

Obesity is a chronic medical condition affecting over 14 million Australians. It contributes to serious illnesses including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnoea and infertility — yet access to effective treatment is far from equitable.

We now have medications approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that are shown to reduce weight and improve health outcomes. These medications are recommended by leading national and international clinical guidelines. However, they are not subsidised, leaving many patients unable to afford treatment — even when clinically indicated.

The Proposal: What It Asks For

The Health Equity for All submission doesn’t call for a blanket rollout. Rather, it outlines a targeted, evidence-based approach to ensure those with the highest clinical need can access support. Its key pillars include:

• PBS-funded access prioritised for those with medical need
• Alignment with the National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032
• A strong focus on supporting disadvantaged and First Nations communities
• Long-term savings to the healthcare system through early intervention

This is about delivering structured, stigma-free, and clinically sound care — and ensuring access isn’t determined by income or postcode.

From Advocacy to Action

The working group has now requested a meeting with the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, to push for concrete policy change. It’s a critical step toward closing the equity gap in obesity treatment.

As Dr Kwong puts it:

“This is about recognising obesity as a complex medical condition, not a character flaw — and ensuring the people most affected have access to the care they need.”

What This Means for Enlighten Me

At Enlighten Me, we’re proud to stand behind this advocacy. Our programs and products are designed to reflect the same core values:

• Evidence-based care
• Kind, inclusive treatment
• Realistic and sustainable approaches to weight management

We know from clinical experience that access to care transforms lives. And when that care is out of reach, it’s not just individuals who lose out — our entire health system does.

How You Can Help

If you’re a health professional, patient, or concerned community member, your voice matters. Here’s how you can support this work:

• Comment below to share your support
• Share this blog to amplify the message

Every comment and share helps keep this issue visible.

Looking Ahead

Health Equity for All isn’t just a proposal — it’s a vision for a better healthcare future. A future where obesity is treated with the same care, funding, and structure as other chronic illnesses. A future where treatment access isn’t a privilege, but a right.

Thanks to the leadership of Dr Angela Kwong and her colleagues, we are one step closer to that vision becoming reality.

Because health equity should not depend on income, postcode, or luck.
Because every Australian deserves access to care that works.
Because change is possible — when we choose to act.