Protecting British Columbia’s Supply of Ozempic
The government of British Columbia is taking essential measures to ensure that individuals with diabetes in the province have uninterrupted access to the crucial medication Semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic. This decision comes amidst growing concerns about potential shortages due to increased demand for the drug in various regions. Ozempic, which is an injectable prescription medication intended for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, contains the active ingredient Semaglutide. As of now, B.C. has not faced any shortages of the drug. However, PharmaNet data from the province reveals an unusually high proportion of Ozempic dispenses being purchased by United States patients from B.C.-based pharmacies.
U.S. consumers are increasingly turning to Canadian pharmacies for more affordable drug prices. Pharmacies in B.C. can fill prescriptions for patients written by U.S. doctors if co-signed by a Canadian practitioner. In January and February 2023, 15,798 dispenses of Ozempic, accounting for 15% of the total, were sold to U.S. residents, who comprised 19% (12,816) of all patients receiving the drug from a pharmacy in the province. In contrast, the average percentage of other medications sold to Americans is only 0.4%. PharmaNet data shows that two B.C. pharmacies accounted for 13,197 of the 15,798 dispenses to U.S. residents in January and February 2023, which represents 88% of all such dispenses. Of these prescriptions, 95% were issued by one or more prescribers identifying themselves as practitioners from Nova Scotia.
Health Minister Adrian Dix clarified that the primary objective of procuring Ozempic for B.C. is to ensure its availability for local and Canadian patients in need of the medication to manage their Type 2 diabetes. Consequently, the province is taking appropriate action to guarantee continued access to the drug for its residents. To safeguard the supply of Ozempic for B.C. and Canadian citizens, the provincial government plans to modify regulations, restricting sales or dispensing of the drug to non-Canadian residents in cases of potential supply issues.
BC PharmaCare offers limited coverage for Ozempic as a secondary treatment for Type 2 diabetes, helping patients control their blood sugar levels when metformin, another diabetes medication, proves ineffective. Ozempic is not approved for weight loss. Due to the substantial dispensing volumes, the Ministry of Health has requested that relevant colleges ensure compliance with the approved indication for Ozempic by physicians and pharmacies, in addition to meeting the colleges’ clinical practice requirements for prescribing and dispensing medications.