B.C. Regulations Cause 99% Drop in Ozempic Prescriptions to Americans

 New regulations and doctor's suspension lead to significant decline in cross-border pharmaceutical activity

The British Columbia (B.C.) government has implemented new regulations after an investigation revealed a significant decline in the number of Ozempic prescriptions being dispensed to Americans. The province's actions have resulted in a staggering 99% reduction in prescriptions, indicating a substantial impact on cross-border pharmaceutical activity.

Between January 1 and April 19 of this year, B.C. pharmacies provided 30,700 Ozempic prescriptions to U.S. residents. However, this number sharply plummeted to a mere 111 prescriptions between April 20 and May 31, denoting a 99.6% decrease. The Ministry of Health attributed this decline to recent social media trends, shortages of Ozempic in the United States, and the temporary suspension of a physician responsible for an unusually high percentage of prescriptions.

To address concerns of potential Ozempic shortages in Canada, the B.C. government introduced a regulation on April 19 prohibiting non-residents from purchasing the drug online or through mail-order sales. Although this regulation doesn't impact Canadians' access to the medication, it requires American individuals seeking Ozempic prescriptions to purchase them in person within B.C.

Investigations further revealed that two online pharmacies in B.C. had filled 88% of all prescriptions for U.S. residents, with 95% of those prescriptions being written by a single physician from Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons took swift action by temporarily suspending the doctor, identified as Dr. David Davison. Despite retaining a Nova Scotia license to practice medicine as a non-resident, Dr. Davison hasn't practiced in the province for many years. The college launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter, describing the prescribing volume as incompetent and not aligned with professional standards.

B.C. also announced that the College of Pharmacists is conducting an ongoing investigation into the two online pharmacies involved. Notably, B.C. pharmacies can still fill prescriptions written by U.S. doctors if they are co-signed by a Canadian practitioner.

Ozempic, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, is a brand-name medication primarily used for Type 2 diabetes. It contains semaglutide, a medical ingredient that mimics the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), aiding in insulin release and blood sugar regulation. Semaglutide also has weight-loss properties, and another drug containing it, Wegovy, is approved for obesity treatment. However, ongoing global shortages have prevented any Wegovy prescriptions from being filled in Canada.

In conclusion, the B.C. government's swift actions, including new regulations and the suspension of a physician responsible for an excessive number of Ozempic prescriptions, have resulted in a drastic decline in cross-border dispensing activity. These measures aim to ensure the drug's availability for Canadians while addressing concerns regarding the integrity of prescription practices.