Quebec taxpayers shelled out more than $280 million in Ozempic claims

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Ozempic, a world-renowned weight-loss drug, is widely prescribed in Quebec, where the province's Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) says it has so far settled more than $280 million in claims.

RAMQ states that the drug is used to treat type 2 diabetes and only covers non-reimbursable claims where Ozempic is used to promote weight loss.

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“The only indication that allows reimbursement under the public (insurance) plan is type 2 diabetes,” RAMQ said in an email to Presse Canadienne, noting that reimbursement criteria are strict.

Taxpayer-funded reimbursements for Ozempic have increased dramatically over the past few years, from $87,000 in 2019 to $119 million in 2023. Between January 1 and February 18 of this year, a total of $15 million was paid.

Ozempic's claims totaled more than $280 million since it joined RAMQ-covered drugs in 2019.

In 2020, approximately 30,000 new prescriptions were registered for Ozempic containing RAMQ, including dose adjustments to existing prescriptions. In 2023, there were 135,786 new prescriptions for Ozempic.

According to RAMQ, more than 61,000 people received prescriptions for Ozempic that did not qualify for state insurance reimbursement. As of February 18, 52,000 patients were not eligible for publicly funded Ozempica prescriptions. In 2019, there were 254.

Ozempic is an injectable drug primarily used to control type 2 diabetes, but one of its side effects is affecting a person's satiety level – the feeling of having enough to eat – which can lead to weight loss.

Presse Canadienne health content is funded through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. Presse Canadienne is responsible for its editorial selection.

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