Denmark rationalised cheaper diabetic medicines and restricted GLP-1 analogues. The so-called GLP-1 analogues, which include is known under the product names Ozempic, Trulicity, Rybelsus and Victoza, is significantly more expensive than other types of diabetes medication (so-called DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, beta-cell stimulants and metformin).
The Danish Medicines Agency has made a decision on the future subsidy for type 2 diabetes medicine, which is not insulin. Most types of diabetes drugs generally retain subsidies, but there are some changes, and certain GLP-1 analogs get a tighter clause. The changes apply from 25 November 2024.
When making decisions about medical subsidies, the Medical Subsidy Board and the Danish Medicines Agency must consider which treatment is most rational and assess whether the drug price, which governs the public expenditure on subsidies, is commensurate with the therapeutic effect. Therefore, the professional treatment guidelines and the prices of diabetes medicines are decisive for the current decision on the future subsidy for various diabetes medicines.
In the Danish treatment recommendations, there are other types of diabetes medication that are recommended on an equal footing with the GLP-1 analogues for the various patient groups. Therefore, it is most rational to start treatment with the cheaper alternatives, and only those patients who cannot be treated with these should switch to treatment with GLP-1 drugs.
