Non-specialist doctors prescribing appetite suppressant drugs like Ozempic in Slovakia

Appetite suppressant medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro have become increasingly popular in Slovakia, with growing demand from people who don't have diabetes. While non-diabetic patients must pay for these drugs themselves, they still require a doctor's prescription to obtain them. Pharmacists report encountering prescriptions for these weight-loss medications written by doctors whose specializations have no connection to obesity or diabetes treatment, including pediatric neurologists, dentists, and dermatologists. The drugs, originally developed for diabetes management, are now widely sought after for their weight-loss effects, raising questions about appropriate prescribing practices when specialists outside relevant medical fields are writing prescriptions for these medications.