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Why are Victorian prisoners receiving free Ozempic? | 9 News Australia
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June 4, 2026
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5:47Now PlayingA major controversy has erupted in Australia as it is revealed that Victorian prisoners are receiving premium weight loss jabs, such as Ozempic, completely free of charge while behind bars. This exclusive investigative report by the Herald Sun has sparked intense public outrage among taxpaying citizens who face strict restrictions and high costs for the exact same life-altering medications.
Regular citizens across Victoria must pay up to $700 a month out of pocket for these weight loss treatments. Furthermore, Australia's federal healthcare guidelines require regular patients to have suffered a heart attack or have diabetes before qualifying for state-subsidised weight loss drugs. Despite this, the state's Allen government is facing heavy criticism for allowing inmates to access these premium drugs through the public purse.
Medical expert Dr Nick Coastworth provides insight into the history behind this unprecedented access. The policy reportedly stems from a case where an inmate entered prison at roughly 80 kilograms, gained 117 kilograms on prison food, and eventually died from severe obesity-related heart complications. While prison guards state that inmates behave aggressively if they miss their doses, the decision is highly questioned given the state's significant debt issues.
The segment also covers a massive boom in the tobacco black market, where medical experts warn that up to 80% of nicotine products are now illicit. Dr Coastworth discusses the failure of tobacco tax compliance and calls for emergency law enforcement intervention, a reduction in high excise duties, and structured smoking cessation campaigns. Watch the full analysis to understand how Australia's public healthcare and legal systems are managing these parallel crises. Subscribe for more expert medical policy breakdowns and breaking Australian current affairs. | *Subscribe and 🔔
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