Man from Lyngby accused of defrauding public healthcare system over Ozempic medication

A 42-year-old man from Lyngby has been accused of defrauding the public healthcare system by fraudulently obtaining significant quantities of the diabetes medication Ozempic, amounting to 766,863 kroner in public subsidies. The prosecution claims the amount is equivalent to “years of consumption” and also alleges that the man illegally resold the medication as a weight-loss treatment. He is now facing serious fraud charges, risking imprisonment, restitution, and possible deportation. The trial is set to begin in January and is one of several cases involving Ozempic fraud.

Additionally, a verdict is expected soon in the first case related to Ozempic fraud, concerning a 56-year-old woman from Hvidovre. She is accused of receiving over 300,000 kroner in unwarranted public support for Ozempic in 2023 and illegally selling it as a weight-loss drug. The prosecution contends that the woman provided false and misleading information to acquire amounts equivalent to nearly nine years’ worth of medication at the maximum recommended dose. The woman has pleaded not guilty, claiming she used the medication due to a significant addiction.

Regulations surrounding prescription medication subsidies stipulate that costs under 1,075 kroner must be borne entirely by the patient, while larger amounts receive substantial subsidies. In early 2023, 33 individuals were reported to the police for suspected fraudulent practices involving Ozempic, as officials voiced concerns over the extent of the quantities being prescribed.

To combat potential abuse, since July 1, diabetes patients can now only obtain Ozempic for three months at a time. This regulation was implemented to curb the possibility of obtaining excess quantities for illegal resale. The pharmacy association reports that while some attempts have been made to exceed this limit, those requests are typically denied.