The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical product alert regarding falsified semaglutide medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
The alert concerns three batches of falsified products detected in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with reports of increased falsification of these medicines globally since 2022.
Semaglutides, including the specific brand Ozempic, are prescribed to lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
These medicines are available in injectable form, which must be injected under the skin weekly, or as tablets taken daily. They also suppress appetite, making them increasingly prescribed for weight loss in some countries.
However, WHO has observed an increased demand for these medicines, leading to reports of falsification.
Falsified semaglutides can have harmful effects on people’s health, as they may not contain the necessary raw components or may contain undeclared active ingredients, such as insulin.
This can lead to unpredictable health risks or complications, including unmanaged blood glucose levels or weight.
WHO emphasises that semaglutides are not part of its recommended treatments for diabetes management due to their high cost, which makes them unsuitable for a public health approach.
To protect themselves from falsified medicines, patients using these products should take certain precautions. They should buy medicines with prescriptions from licensed physicians and avoid buying from unfamiliar or unverified sources.
SOURCE : NEWSREPORTZIM.COM
