Authorities believe half of NHS costs for drugs like Ozempic are the result of fraud, with the drug being prescribed for weight loss.
The Porto Judiciary Police (PJ) estimates that about half of the expense from the National Health Service (SNS) with medicines for type 2 diabetes may be being used inappropriately. At issue is the prescription of drugs such as Ozempic for weight loss purposesinstead of the treatment of the disease for which they are reimbursed by the State.
Between 2020 and 2025, the SNS spent approximately 505 million euros in the co-participation of these medicines. According to the report, more than 250 million euros may correspond to improper prescriptions, mainly concentrated in Ozempic. The analysis was carried out as part of “Operation Obelix”, which investigates fraudulent practices associated with medical prescriptions.
The data collected by the PJ indicates that around 50% of SNS charges with this medicine do not concern patients with diabetes. Authorities suspect that, in many cases, the prescription was made with the sole objective of promoting weight loss, a practice that constitutes a fraud scheme against the State.
The increase in public spending on these medicines has been significant. In 2020, charges were 35.2 million euros, having risen by 285% to around 135.5 million in 2025. This increase contrasts with the evolution of the number of diabeticswhich grew just 12% in the same period, going from 833 thousand to 936 thousand patients.
As part of the operation, the PJ also investigates health professionals. A doctor, identified as Graça Vargas, is suspected of earn around 15 thousand euros per month in consultations, charging approximately 200 euros per appointment and requiring payment in cash. The authorities estimate that the practices under investigation will have caused direct damage to the State of around three million euros.
Another relevant impact identified is the difficulty accessing medication by diabetic patients. Improper use is compromising the treatment of those who really need the drug, worsening a public health problem.
