Recently, there have been major problems in obtaining the diabetes medicine Ozempic.
One of the reasons is that many doctors have also prescribed the medicine to patients who have struggled with overweight and obesity.
Today, the Directorate for Medical Products issued a new recommendation to Norwegian doctors. They ask doctors to only give the medicine to patients with diabetes. There are two reasons for that.
– One is that there is a widespread shortage of Ozempic, says senior doctor Sigurd Hortemo in Dmp.
The second is that what the authorities have done to solve the shortage up to now has cost a lot. It has been allowed to import Ozempic from abroad to Norwegian patients.
Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / NRK
– We know, among other things, that in 2023 this use of foreign seals will lead to an additional expenditure of NOK 500 million, says Hortemo.
At the same time, the Directorate encourages pharmacies to only dispense the medicine for four weeks at a time, they write on their websites.
According to Aftenposten has around a quarter of the patients who has had Ozempic covered by the state, was not entitled to it.
Other options
Now people who need anti-obesity drugs have to look around for other drugs.
– Those patients who have received Ozempic to treat overweight and obesity must have a chat with their doctor and agree on the current treatment.
Hortemo says there are a number of other drugs that can be used to treat obesity.
Ozempic contains the same active ingredient as the obesity medicine Wegovy. The difference is how much of the substance semaglutide they contain. In addition, Ozempic is not intended for obesity treatment, although the “side effect” of the medication is that many people lose weight.
The superintendent also says that the directorate is considering even more measures going forward.
– We hope that this can help something, but we don’t think it’s enough.
Over the next few weeks, the directorate will decide whether the rules linked to Ozempic should be changed. Until now, the medicine has been pre-approved. But it may soon become relevant that the doctors have to apply for reimbursement for each individual patient.
– What happens to doctors who nevertheless prescribe Ozempic for obesity treatment according to this new recommendation?
– We do not have measures that can prevent the prescription of Ozempic over the counter, but believe that the call, which is also supported by the Medical Association, should carry weight.
Worry
The Diabetes Association is happy that Dmp is tightening the recommendations for doctors.
– The manufacturer has reported that the lack of Ozempic will persist until 2024 as a minimum, and then it is important for us to work to ensure that the health of people with diabetes is taken care of.
This is what Ingvild Eilertsen, acting head of communications in the union, writes in an email.
At the same time, they are concerned about the signals from the directorate that there may be even more austerity measures.
– We are concerned that Dmp is considering taking the medicine off the blue prescription for everyone. We also fear that there will be inequality in treatment if patients themselves have to get involved to get doctors to apply for individual reimbursement at Ozempic. Then we risk that only those with the most resources will have access to the medicine.
Above all expectations
Nils Kristian Klev is leader of the General Practitioners’ Association. He says they support the new recommendation from the authorities.
– Ozempic is approved for the treatment of adults with inadequately controlled diabetes mellitus type 2. When there is now a shortage of this medicine, we support that it be reserved for diabetes patients.
Diabetics are also the only ones who can get Ozempic on a blue prescription today. This means that the state takes the largest part of the bill for the patients. There is no shortage of the obesity medicine Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient, continues Klev.
He explains that the use of Ozempic has increased beyond all expectations and much is due to its very good effect on diabetes, but also weight reduction.
Nils Kristian Klev is head of the Association of General Practitioners.
Photo: Arne Sørenes / NRK
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2024-02-21 15:23:01
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