The Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed) has announced that Ozempic (semaglutide) will now be covered by the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) in Portugal for adults with type 2 diabetes who are obese or at high cardiovascular risk. The drug will be used as an “adjuvant to diet and exercise, in addition to other medications for the treatment of diabetes,” and it will be prescribed in second- and third-line therapy. This means it is intended for patients whose blood sugar remains insufficiently controlled with other treatments. In Madeira, the issue is especially relevant because diabetes affects 14% of adults, well above the European average of 9.8%. The article also notes that 58% of Madeira’s adult population is classified as overweight or obese, underscoring the need for prevention, early detection, and healthier lifestyles. José Manuel Boavida, president of the Associação Protetora dos Diabéticos de Portugal (APDP), called the decision a long-standing demand and said earlier exclusions were completely unacceptable. He added that the measure expands access to almost all people with diabetes, as well as those with obesity or high cardiovascular risk, while stressing that obesity itself still needs to be addressed further.
