Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Health

Medicinal Products

Photo of Ruairí Ó MurchúRuairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1676. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the efforts being made to ensure Ozempic is available to all those with a prescription for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1984/25]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you for your question in relation to the availability of Ozempic.

Semaglutide (Ozempic®) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist licensed for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

The Department is aware of previous recurrent shortages of Ozempic, during 2023 and 2024, and appreciates the stress and inconvenience that shortages of medicines can cause for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Thusly managing and mitigating medicine shortages is the subject of several workstreams across the Department and wider health service.

Ireland has a multi-stakeholder Medicines Shortages Framework in place, operated by our medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on behalf of the Department of Health. The framework aims to help prevent potential shortages from occurring and to reduce the impact of shortages on patients by coordinating the management of potential or actual shortages as they arise. Stakeholders in this framework include the HPRA, the Department, the HSE, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, wholesalers, patient representative groups and marketing authorisation holders.

A recent shortage of Ozempic 0.25 mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen, was resolved on 10th January 2025. The HPRA has not been notified of a current shortage of Ozempic.

However, in the event that patients or their carers are unable to source a medicine, the Department would advise they discuss possible alternatives with their doctor pending the resumption of normal supply.

The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages. on its website: www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/medicines-information/medicines-shortages. The webpage is updated daily as the HPRA receives new information.

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