Popular diabetes drug ‘Ozempic’ may no longer be subsidized as the Danish Medicines Agency assesses whether this could save millions of kroner in health subsidies. Known for being the preferred choice among patients because it also helps with weight loss, the Novo Nordisk drug costs 1,300 DKK each month per patient, and this is largely subsidized by taxpayers. Last year, 80,000 citizens received the drug, and the regions spent 580 million DKK which is 10% of the region’s total expenditure on health subsidies.
- A department under the Danish Health Authority has also stressed that drug consumption must “significantly decrease”. It said those who are currently on the drug should ideally be switched to cheaper and similar alternatives.
- Meanwhile, Danish Society for General Medicine chairwoman Bolette Friderichsen said patients who are on the drug shouldnt be immediately switched to a different drug. “We recommend that doctors think financially when they start a new medication, and also preferably when they routinely assess a patient’s medication once a year.”
