The government of British Columbia (B.C.) has announced a significant decline in the number of Ozempic prescriptions being dispensed to Americans. This decline came after new regulations were enacted by the province and a doctor responsible for an abnormally high number of prescriptions was temporarily suspended. According to the B.C. Ministry of Health, between January 1 to April 19 of this year, B.C. pharmacies dispensed 30,700 Ozempic prescriptions to U.S. residents. However, between April 20 and May 31, that number dropped to 111, which is a staggering 99.6% reduction.
The Ministry had been closely monitoring the supply of Ozempic due to social media trends and shortages in the United States. The shortages in the U.S. seemed to be driving Americans to seek out the drug in Canada, raising concerns of a potential shortage in Canada as well. In the first two months of 2023, it was discovered that up to 15% of the drug’s prescriptions in B.C. were going to Americans.
To address this issue, on April 19, the province implemented a new regulation that prohibits non-residents from purchasing Ozempic online or through mail-order sales. This regulation does not affect Canadians’ access to the drug but requires Americans to purchase it in person if they want to get it filled in B.C.
The regulation was prompted by the discovery that just two online B.C. pharmacies fulfilled 88% of all prescriptions for U.S. residents, and a single physician from Nova Scotia wrote 95% of those prescriptions. On April 6, the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Nova Scotia temporarily suspended the physician in question, Dr. David Davison, who had written over 17,000 prescriptions for Ozempic in just three months. Dr. Davison, a Nova Scotia-licensed physician based in Odessa, Texas, had retained his Nova Scotia license but had not been practicing in the province for many years.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons is conducting a full investigation into this matter, considering it a serious issue. Dr. Gus Grant, the registrar and CEO of the College, stated that the volume of prescriptions alone does not align with proper medical assessment and judgment, suggesting potential incompetence in prescribing practices.
The province of B.C. has also launched an ongoing investigation into the two online pharmacies based there that dispensed thousands of Ozempic prescriptions to Americans. However, B.C. pharmacies can still fulfill prescriptions written by U.S. doctors if they are co-signed by a Canadian practitioner.
Ozempic is a brand-name diabetes medication that contains the medical ingredient semaglutide. Semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which stimulates insulin release and helps reduce blood sugar spikes. It is also effective at regulating diet and has been used as a weight-loss treatment. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, also manufactures a drug called Wegovy, which contains semaglutide and is specifically approved for obesity treatment. However, due to ongoing global shortages, no Wegovy prescriptions have been filled in Canada.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are administered through weekly injections, with the main difference being that Wegovy can be injected at a slightly higher dosage. These drugs have been approved for use in Canada, with Ozempic being available since 2018 and Wegovy since 2021.
It is crucial for doctors licensed in Nova Scotia to uphold proper prescription practices, whether in-person or through virtual medicine, as stated by Dr. Grant.
(Disclaimer: This article is presented for informational purposes only and does not endorse or recommend any specific medical treatment or drug. Please consult with a healthcare professional for personalized medical advice.)
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