Short supply of drug used for Type 2 diabetes

Semaglutide, brand name Ozempic, is used by about 350 people in the island

Pharmacies in Guernsey have said they are in "very short supply" of a drug used to help manage Type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide, brand name Ozempic, is used by about 350 people in the island.

The drug was approved by the NHS in March to help with weight loss.

The UK Department of Health and Social Care said the UK was also facing a shortage, and the supply issues may not be resolved "until at least mid-2024".

Teena Bhogal, chief pharmacist for Health and Social Care in Guernsey, said alternative approaches and treatments were being prepared in case pharmacies ran out.

She said: "The healthcare community is doing all it can to help navigate patients through the present situation.

"Prescribing advice on alternative approaches and treatments is being prepared, but we need to be mindful that supplies of the other similar products are also quite low."

Ms Bhogal said they were aware some islanders had been prescribed semaglutide "privately for weight loss".

She said: "In line with the NHS advice, we are having to conserve what supplies there are for people with diabetes, which is approved and funded by HSC.

"Unfortunately, we have had to ask doctors and pharmacies to temporarily suspend prescribing and dispensing semaglutide for weight loss”.

The States of Guernsey also said pharmacies had faced verbal abuse by customers after being told they were "unable to dispense their semaglutide prescriptions".

"Our pharmacy teams work incredibly hard to get patients the medicines they need.

"No matter how distressing a situation is, it is never acceptable to be unpleasant," it added.