Press release from the Professional Council of Diabetes Québec
For several weeks, Quebec has been affected by a supply problem that began with semaglutide (Ozempic®) injectable pens. This is a worldwide shortage due to the high demand for diabetes and obesity treatment. As a result, intermittent stockouts are expected until April 2024 in Canada for all dosages (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg).
Diabetes Québec is aware of the anxiety and difficulties that this situation may cause.
On November 17, 2023, the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec, the Collège des médecins du Québec and the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec issued a joint statement (in French only) to Prescribers to address this shortage:
- Prioritize the continuity of treatment for patients who are already taking the drug;
- Avoid starting treatment with Ozempic® for new patients;
- Ensure that the treatments started are still required by referring to the criteria for use determined by the Institut national d’excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS), or by other recognized scientific organizations;
- Assess each patient’s specific condition and discuss available treatment alternatives;
- Ensure an equitable distribution by limiting the distribution of the drug to one month.
On November 20, 2023, the RAMQ authorized substitutions (Trulicity® and Victoza®) to address this shortage, without requiring a new request for an exception drug. Your pharmacist will therefore be able to provide you with another drug from the same family that will be reimbursed temporarily during the shortage. For more information, please consult the RAMQ newsletter (in French only).
In addition, other options not reimbursed by the RAMQ are also available, such as semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus®) or injectable tirzepatide (Mounjaro®).
However, for all the drugs that can serve as alternatives to Ozempic®, companies have unfortunately also reported possible shortages. In addition, Diabetes Québec would like to warn people who might be tempted to buy their medication on the Internet that they are exposing themselves to certain risks.
In some cases, it may be possible to:
- Space out the doses of these medications and/or
- Reduce the dosage
- Replace the medication or combine it with other classes of diabetes drugs
Remember: When making changes to diabetes treatment, it is important to monitor blood sugar levels more closely to ensure that there is no diabetes imbalance.
Diabetes Québec regrets that these prolonged shortages are putting additional stress on people with diabetes, including the risk of a diabetes imbalance and also often higher costs. This shortage also puts greater pressure on health care professionals with extra calls, faxes and visits to come up with alternative solutions.
Diabetes Québec would like to see companies provide some predictability and make the required effort to put an end to this difficult situation so that people with diabetes and health professionals can adjust treatment without having to manage successive changes.