In a new press release from the Danish Medicines Agency, it is announced that the subsidy for certain types of diabetes medication, including the popular Ozempic from Novo Nordisk, will be tightened. This step is taken to significantly reduce public expenses, as the price of these types of medicine is substantially higher than the alternatives. Ozempic, which is part of the GLP-1 analogs, has seen strong growth in use among diabetes patients. The agency points out that many patients have started on this type of medication without first trying cheaper alternatives. In the future, only patients who do not respond satisfactorily to the cheaper treatment options will be eligible to receive subsidies for GLP-1 medication. This change will affect around half of the current users of GLP-1 analogs, meaning that many will have to switch to other types of diabetes medication. This initiative is expected to result in savings for the regions, as expenses for medication subsidies will decrease. According to the Danish Medicines Agency, the new subsidy clause will come into effect on November 25, 2024.
Patients currently receiving subsidies for medication that will be affected by this change are encouraged to contact their own doctor to discuss alternative treatment options. This decision is based on recommendations from the Medication Subsidy Board and is in line with the professional treatment guidelines. Head of section in the Danish Medicines Agency, Kim Helleberg Madsen, states that the decision ensures compliance with professional guidelines and a necessary reduction in public expenses. The increasing use of Ozempic, which is also known for its slimming effect, has raised questions about whether the medication has been used for unintended purposes in some cases. With an annual cost of up to 24,000 Danish kroner per patient and a total expenditure of around 1.4 billion Danish kroner in 2023, it is clear that careful management of the regions’ budgets is needed.