SNS will share Ozempic to treat obese adults with type 2 diabetes

The drug Ozempic (semaglutide) will now be reimbursed by the National Health Service for adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity or high cardiovascular risk, a decision applauded by the Association for the Protection of Diabetics of Portugal.

Ozempic, used to treat type 2 diabetes, received authorization from Infarmed for reimbursement in patients with obesity or high risk of cardiovascular disease, expanding access to a treatment considered essential for many patients.

According to Infarmed’s Public Financing Assessment Report, released this Monday, February 2, Ozempic obtained reimbursement authorization for the “treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, insufficiently controlled, with a BMI equal to or greater than 30 kg/m2 or a high risk of cardiovascular disease”.

The medicine will be used as an “adjunct to diet and exercise, in addition to other medicines for the treatment of diabetes, to be used in 2nd and 3rd lines of therapy”, says the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products (Infamed).

The measure was welcomed by the president of the Association for the Protection of Diabetics of Portugal (APDP), José Manuel Boavida, as it was “an old demand of the association”.

According to the president of APDP, until now there was “discrimination between people with diabetes that was in no way acceptable”.

“This news extends the contribution to most people with diabetes, all those who are obese and all those who have a high cardiovascular risk, which is practically all people with diabetes,” the specialist told Lusa.

The APDP considers that the decision finally creates “a situation of non-discrimination among people with diabetes”, but there is still “the next step” missing, which is “a direct approach to the problem of obesity”.

“We realize that it is complex, but it will have to be done as well. Let’s take it in steps”, said José Manuel Boavida, concluding that “it is really with great satisfaction that the Association takes responsibility for this decision by Infarmed and the Ministry of Health”.