Edmonton pharmacies facing shortages of common drugs: ‘It’s frightening’
Ozempic.Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, has been warning for months now the products — which are both the drug semaglutide but at different dosages — will be difficult to get as the new year looms.Already pharmacies in Edmonton are having to limit how much it dispenses and shortages means it’s very difficult for people to get their medications quickly, if at all.“The patient usually comes and we have the prescription (filled) in like 15-30 minutes. Right now I would say maybe the day after, tomorrow when I get back from the doctor,” Haggag said.A lot of the patients who head to her pharmacy tend to call around looking for their medications, but almost every pharmacy in Edmonton is facing the same issue.She said in her 23 years as a pharmacist, she has never seen it this bad and that the backlog can mainly be attributed to manufacturing shortages.“Usually, I have one account with one wholesaler.
But honestly, in the last year, I’ve opened three different accounts with all three big wholesalers in Canada just in case,” Haggag said.In the case of Ozempic and Wegovy — which has been approved in Canada for over two years but never actually sold here due to demand elsewhere — it’s a manufacturing shortage of the plastic used to make the injection pens the drug comes in, coupled with surging global demand for the drug that has revolutionized weight and diabetes management for many patients.In a statement to Global News, Health Canada says ensuring Canadians can get the medicines they need is a top priority. It also works proactively to prevent shortages as well as resolve them.“Health Canada, doctors, pharmacists, manufacturers and distributors work hard to
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