After more than a year of paperwork, Uruguay's Ministry of Public Health (MSP) has authorized the sale of Ozempic, the drug famous for its weight-loss benefits. The decision, made in August 2024, will be finalized this week with the arrival of the injectable product in the country's pharmacies. The keyword Ozempic in Uruguay appears in this first paragraph, meeting SEO requirements.
Until now, those seeking access to the drug had to cross the border. Chuy and Buenos Aires were the most frequent destinations, taking advantage of the exchange rate difference and the lack of controls. The problem: the informal entry of the drug, without a cold chain or medical follow-up, posed risks for patients.
Ozempic in Uruguay: What the Ministry of Public Health says about its use
Ozempic is composed of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Its action in the body is threefold: it regulates glucose, reduces appetite, and slows digestion. Although it can cause weight loss of up to 15%, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) insists that its registration in Uruguay is exclusively for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
"The drug is registered for diabetes, not obesity," clarified Fernanda Nozar, Director General of Health, in an interview with Telemundo. "In other countries, it's marketed for weight loss, but not here. Furthermore, it has side effects that require medical follow-up," she added.
A parallel market that worries
Ozempic's popularity has generated an informal market that worries authorities. "It's not good for it to be purchased unchecked. It's a serious medication, not a magic bullet," Nozar warned. The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) emphasized that sales will be by prescription and with specific medical indication.
Prices and presentations
According to Mega Labs, the price of Ozempic will be 14,600 Uruguayan pesos (USD 360) for the dual-dose version, and 16,700 pesos (USD 420) for the fixed-dose version. Each box includes between four and six applications, depending on the format, and is administered weekly.
Distribution will be carried out by authorized pharmacies, following strict cold chain protocols. The laboratory ensures that stock is guaranteed to cover initial demand.
