Access to some diabetes medications like Ozempic will continue to be restricted until February 2025, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke announced in a press release.
Only people within the intended target group of the medication – namely those with type 2 diabetes, a severe case of obesity, or a high BMI with other weight-related conditions – will be able to access the drug.
Over the past year, worldwide demand for Ozempic has grown significantly, particularly due to its efficacy as a weight loss drug. The high demand has led to shortages in the availability of Ozempic and other similar GLP-1 drugs. This is expected to continue until February 2025, says the Federal Agency for Medicine and Health Products (FAMHP).
Last November, a royal decree was published restricting access to GLP-1 analogues, such as Ozempic. Following the update from the FAMHP, Vandenbroucke has decided to extend the restrictions.
“In times of scarcity, it’s my duty to ensure that those who truly need the medicine are granted access,” Vandenbroucke said.
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Medications like Ozempic are particularly important for patients with type 2 diabetes. Without it, they run the risk of having irregular blood sugars which can result in several complications including fainting or epileptic seizures.
The FAMHP will continue to monitor the situation at a European and national level. An evaluation with the Availability Task Force is planned for the beginning of November 2024. In case of further issues, the meeting will take place at an earlier date.
