A Life Less Hungry

San Dàmhair 2023 chaidh an druga Wegovy a cheadachadh ann an Alba. Tha Semaglutide ri lorg anns an druga, a tha cuideachd ri lorg san leighis do thinneas an t-siùcair, Ozempic. Tha Semaglutide a' mùchadh càil-bìdh agus tha mòran air a bhith ga moladh airson cho èifeachdach 's a tha i airson call cuideam. Air a dèanamh san Danmhairg, tha iarrtas air sìor èirigh sna beagan bhliadhnaichean a dh'fhalbh. Tha seo air Novo Nordisk, a' chompanaidh air a cùlaibh, fhàgail mar a' chompanaidh as luachmhoire san Roinn Eòrpa, agus an luach aca nas àirde na GDP na Danmhairg. Ach tha rabhaidhean air a bhith ann gu bheil iarrtas cho mòr a' fàgail iadsan a tha feumach air Semaglutide, leithid daoine le tinneas an t-siùcair agus iadsan a tha fìor throm, às aonais cothrom oirre. Air Eòrpa na seachdain sa tha Anndra MacFhionghain ag aithris air soirbheachas na druga, agus a' faighneachd dè bhios seo a' ciallachadh do mhuinntir na h-Alba, agus i a-nis ri fhaighinn an seo.

In October 2023 Wegovy was made available on prescription in Scotland. This drug contains the active ingredient Semaglutide, also found in the diabetes drug Ozempic. Semaglutide suppresses the appetite and has been hailed by many as a 'miracle-drug' for weight-loss. Produced in Denmark, demand has sky-rocketted in recent years and has made its maker, Novo Nordisk, the most valuable company in Europe, its worth surpassing the whole GDP of Denmark. But there have been warnings that such high demand is leaving those who really need Semaglutide, such as diabetics and the morbidly obese, without access. On this week's Eòrpa Andrew MacKinnon reports on the recent success of the drug, and asks what it means for people in Scotland, now that it has been made available here.