Namibia: Weight Loss Craze Squeezes Diabetes Drug Supply
[Namibian] Diabetes patients are struggling to access some medicines amid shortages and growing demand for diabetes drugs used for weight loss.
Namibia's diabetes patients are grappling with medication shortages as demand for weight loss drugs soars. The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council warned of an increase in unauthorised GLP-1 and peptide medicines being sold on social media for weight loss. This comes after patients and their families reported difficulties accessing diabetes medications that were previously easily obtainable.
One patient, Ndapanda, noted that her mother's diabetes medication was out of stock at pharmacies in early 2025, prompting her to pre-order the injections to ensure availability. The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged ongoing medicine shortages in the public health system. While some diabetes patients report no issues finding their medication, others face challenges, particularly those relying on public health facilities.
The WHO added GLP-1 medicines for diabetes and obesity to its essential medicines list in December, but high prices continue to limit access, especially in developing countries. Nutritionist Vanessa Negumbo advises against using medication for weight loss when it is not medically necessary, as it could lead to unwanted effects.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
