Pharmacy Daily | Ozempic shortages not patients’ fault

PATIENTS using diabetes medication, Ozempic (semaglutide), to manage weight issues, should not be blamed for supply shortages, specialists believe.

In a joint statement from The Obesity Collective and Weight Issues Network, experts noted that while it was critical that patients with type-2 diabetes retain access to the drug, "people with obesity who have been using Ozempic have been doing so because their doctor has deemed it clinically important for their healthcare and has prescribed the medication".

Sydney-based endocrinologist, Dr Nic Kormas, noted that obesity is a chronic condition that often cannot be managed by diet and exercise alone.

"The vast majority of people with obesity have made many attempts to manage their weight and complications that result from it, often unsuccessfully without help," he said.

"For them, not being able to access effective treatments to manage weight is a serious health issue.

"The Ozempic shortage reinforces the pressing need for additional resources and support for healthcare professionals on how to access help, and manage people with obesity."

World Obesity Federation President-elect, and University of Sydney's Child and Adolescent Health Chair, Professor Louise Baur, urged those engaging in public debate over the shortages of Ozempic, "to resist apportioning blame to particular individuals or groups".

"It's unfortunate that the Ozempic issue has brought out the latent weight bias that still so many people have," she said.

"Stigma is a significant issue facing people with obesity and it can be a very destructive force."

The Weight Issues Network Chair, Dr Divya Ramachandran, urged those commenting on the supply shortages to "exercise compassion".

"Those taking Ozempic have had it prescribed by their doctor for a whole cluster of health issues alongside their obesity," she said.

"Please do not place unfair blame or hate people when they are simply seeking healthcare for their health problems."