Evaluating community pharmacists’ dispensing and counseling practices of semaglutide for weight loss in the United Arab Emirates: A simulated patient study

Pharmacy Practice

  • Noor Kamal Raisan1Master of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, P.O. Box 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
  • Moawia M. Al-Tabakha2Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, P.O. Box 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates., 3Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, P.O. Box 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
  • Akram Ashames2Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, P.O. Box 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates., 3Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, P.O. Box 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.

Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 1-10

DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2026.1.3476

Abstract

Background: The rising global prevalence of obesity has led to increased demand for medications such as Semaglutide (Ozempic®), which is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, its off-label use for weight loss has raised international concerns regarding misuse, patient safety, and pharmacist accountability. Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether community pharmacists in the UAE dispense Ozempic® without a valid prescription and to evaluate the quality and comprehensiveness of pharmacists’ screening and counseling regarding Ozempic®. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the simulated patient (SP) methodology. A trained SP visited 153 randomly selected community pharmacies across Dubai and the Northern Emirates and requested Ozempic® without a prescription for weight loss. Data was collected using a structured checklist covering prescription requirements, screening practices, and counseling quality. Results: Of the 153 pharmacies visited, only a minority (26.8%) requested a prescription for Ozempic® before dispensing the medication. Chain pharmacies (35.4%) and female pharmacists (38.6%) were significantly more likely to request a prescription (p = 0.011 and p = 0.004). Additionally, when comparing the total percentage of pharmacists willing to dispense the medication without a prescription to a hypothetical benchmark of 50%, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Screening practices were minimal, with only 3–30% of pharmacists inquiring about basic patient information. Counselling quality was generally low, with 27% of visits receiving no counselling. Male pharmacists had significantly higher counselling scores than female pharmacists (p = 0.024). Time spent in the pharmacy was significantly correlated with better counselling (p < 0.001). In 20.3% of visits, alternatives, such as Tirzepatide or herbal weight loss products, were suggested. Conclusion: The study revealed significant gaps in prescription compliance and patient counseling among UAE community pharmacists when dispensing Ozempic®. These findings reflect broader global concerns about off-label medication use and the critical role of pharmacists in ensuring safe access to high-demand therapies.

Keywords

  • Ozempic
  • Pharmacist
  • Simulated patient
  • Prescription
  • Dispensing
  • Patient counselling
  • Semaglutide
Pharmacy Practice

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