Australian government considers slimming pill subsidy

Australia's Government is considering a plan to subsidise weight loss programmes in a bid to curb Australians' worsening obesity.

The Government would use its health budget to pay 85 per cent of the cost of an approved 12-week programme prescribed for an overweight patient by a doctor, the Age said. Direct assistance would be capped at A$200 ($221) a year.

The average cost of a 12-week programme in Australia is A$195, the newspaper said.