Leitrim among lowest in country for Ozempic diabetes jab uptake

More than 35,000 people across Ireland were prescribed Ozempic free of charge to treat type 2 diabetes last year — but figures reveal that Leitrim is among the counties with the lowest uptake.

The drug, a once-weekly injectable that helps control blood sugar, has grown in profile in recent years due to its private use for weight loss. However, HSE data shows significant variation in where it is being prescribed under the State’s Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme.

According to figures released through parliamentary questions, 35,571 people were prescribed Ozempic under the LTI scheme between January and March of this year alone, at a cost of almost €11.7 million. In 2024, more than 25,500 people nationwide were receiving the jab free of charge.

North Dublin (2,424 patients) and Galway (2,081) recorded the highest uptake, while rural counties such as Leitrim consistently rank among the lowest. The HSE does not publish detailed county-by-county figures, meaning the exact number of Leitrim patients is not available — but local GPs say rural areas face extra barriers, from fewer diabetes clinics to longer waiting times for specialist referrals.

Ozempic is part of a class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and is covered for eligible patients under the LTI scheme. For those paying privately, it can cost several hundred euro per month.

While the jab has been dubbed a “miracle weight-loss drug” internationally, Irish doctors warn it is approved here strictly for type 2 diabetes and should only be prescribed under medical supervision.

The uneven uptake has prompted calls for greater transparency from the HSE, with campaigners suggesting that a county-by-county breakdown is needed to highlight gaps in rural diabetes care.

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