Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has reported that thousands of its insulin pens were stolen last week from a wholesaler in the Netherlands. The stolen pens may be offered for sale through illegal channels. Novo Nordisk warns that using these pens incorrectly can lead to serious health risks. The company says there is a chance the pens will be marketed as weight-loss medication, but they contain insulin, not semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drugs.
What this means if you are learning Dutch or new in the Netherlands
If you use insulin or another prescription medicine, obtain it only through a pharmacy or a healthcare provider you trust. Be cautious of unusually cheap offers online or through social media, especially for popular weight-loss drugs. The stolen pens contain insulin, so using them as if they were a weight-loss treatment could be dangerous. If you are unsure about a product, ask your pharmacist or general practitioner (huisarts). Learning the Dutch terms for medicines and prescriptions can help you communicate clearly. For official information, check with your own healthcare provider or the Dutch medicines authority.