From 2 January, the slimming medicine Wegovy became available in Norway.
Norway thus became the second country in the world outside the USA where obese people can be prescribed this medication.
In the United States, the slimming medicine, which is referred to as a revolution by some doctors and experts, has been pulled off the shelves.
Studies show that about a third of those who have used Wegovy have experienced a weight reduction of 20 percent or more.
So much has been sold
Among other things, the promising results led to severe shortages of the medicine, which in turn meant that it took a long time for Wegovy to become available in other countries.
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Communications manager at the Pharmacy Association, Jostein Soldal, informs TV 2 that, as of 19 January, more than 800 packs of the slimming medicine have been sold since it became available in the new year.
The pharmacy association does not have an overview of the number of individuals in its statistics.
EXPENSIVE MEDICINE: Wegovy has a price tag of between NOK 1,700 and 2,700 per pack, depending on the strength you buy. Photo: Jesper Edvardsen / Novo Nordisk
An average of around 47 packs of the discussed slimming medicine are thus sold per day.
– It is difficult to say whether it is a lot or a little. We will probably have to wait a little beyond the winter before we can say anything about whether there will be many users of Wegovy, Soldal tells TV 2.
– Many are unsure
Marte Kvittum Tangen, head of the Norwegian Association for General Medicine, says that the number that has been sold so far is not particularly high, and that it is as expected.
– I think many are unsure and that they wait and see a bit, both doctors and patients.
CALLS FOR GUIDELINES: Marte Kvittum Tangen of the Norwegian Association for General Medicine says that Norwegian doctors are calling for clearer guidelines for how to deal with drug treatment of obesity. Photo: Kristin Grønning / TV 2
She does not believe that doctors allow themselves to be pressured by their patients to prescribe the slimming medicine.
– Most GPs know their patients well, and are used to assessing benefit and risk together with the patients and make professional assessments without being pressured, says Kvittum Tangen.
The general practitioner says that Norwegian doctors report great variation in the demand for the medicine.
– Many GPs tell of a large influx of patients who want an assessment on whether they can or should start with Wegovy, she tells TV 2.
Have to pay yourself
Currently, the slimming medicine is only available on white prescription, which means that the patients themselves have to pay. The medicine is expensive, and the price tag is between 1700 and 2775 and depends on how large a dose you buy.
HAVE TO PAY YOURSELF: Wegovy is currently only available on white prescription, which means that patients have to pay themselves. Photo: Ap
In recent weeks, the Norwegian Medicines Agency has considered whether Wegovy should be made available on blue prescription.
The conclusion came on Thursday.
– The health effects do not outweigh the price when we evaluate the drug according to the priority criteria that the Storting has given us. We are open to negotiating a price if the company wants this, says Acting Area Director Einar Andreassen in one press release.
