Johannesburg – Recent regulatory and legal action against pharmacies illegally compounding GLP-1 weight-loss medicines has affected up to 300 000 South Africans, says Obiflex, a doctor-led health management programme.
With the compounded route now closed, and with an appetite for weight-loss GLP-1s in South Africa estimated at R3 billion, affected patients face a tough choice: seek out other unregulated and potentially unsafe sources, or turn to a registered, doctor-prescribed alternative that many say they cannot afford.
Registered GLP-1 medicines typically cost between R3 000 and R6 000 a month, excluding doctor consultations.
Medical Aid cover is limited, with most schemes contributing around 50% of the cost for members with a diabetes diagnosis.
This leaves those managing weight for other reasons to fund treatment themselves.
“Affordability pushed so many patients toward cheaper, unregistered compounded alternatives,” explained Shaun Barns, co-founder and CEO of Obiflex.
“Now the compounding route has been shut down by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), so unless there’s legitimate, affordable access, that demand doesn’t disappear; it risks people seeking other unregulated or illicit options.”
BNPL comes to GLP1s
Obiflex, a doctor-led health management programme, has developed a predictable-payment alternative to close the affordability gap.
The three-month programme is spread over five monthly payments of R1 499, or a six-month programme is spread over nine equal monthly payments of R1 999.
Both programmes include a virtual doctor consultation, virtual health coaching, digital health tracking tools, weekly wellness advice and door-to-door delivery – accessed through WhatsApp or the web, with no new app to download.
Obiflex’s doctor network has been trained specifically in the endocrinology and cardiology of weight management by co-founder Dr. Riaz Motara.
Doctors are trained to address the underlying causes of unhealthy weight changes.
The programme pairs low-dose GLP-1 treatment with structured health coaching, reflecting a growing body of international research showing that combining medication with lifestyle support improves the likelihood of maintaining weight loss over the longer term, compared to medication alone.
Targeted weight loss is up to 10% of body weight in six months.
Those who need more support can continue further rounds with Obiflex.
Obiflex has partnered with a pioneer of weight-loss medication and one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
Barns said: “There are hundreds of thousands of South Africans who want to better manage their weight, and many of them have been doing so through unregulated channels.
“Obiflex believes that if someone has already chosen to make health changes, we should make sure there’s an affordable, safe, legitimate approach with medical oversight.”
Obiflex members receive weekly wellness content covering nutrition, sleep and movement, and access to a health-tracking app that monitors body composition, blood pressure and other vitals.
Members can opt into more intensive one-on-one health coaching for a low fee.
“We didn’t want to just make the medicine more affordable,” stated Barns.
“We want to offer proper medical support, coaching and a way to pay for GLP-1s.”
