In late January, David Fernando, a pharmacist in São Paulo, was threatened at gunpoint during a robbery that targeted weight-loss drugs, notably Ozempic. These injectable medications are highly sought after in Brazil, where societal pressures regarding body image are intense, yet many citizens struggle to afford the prices ranging from R$700 to R$1,100 (approximately $120 to $190) for a month's supply, while the average monthly income hovers around $300.
This was not an isolated incident—Fernando's pharmacy has experienced similar robberies multiple times, prompting the installation of security measures, including the presence of a guard on-site. The crime rates involving these medications reflect a disturbing trend; another pharmacy nearby has implemented heightened security following a shootout during an attempted Ozempic theft last August.
As obesity levels continue to climb, the demand for weight-loss drugs has only intensified, juxtaposing a public fixation with idealized body standards against a backdrop of economic disparity. The combination of these factors creates a precarious environment for both pharmacists and the communities they serve, leading to an alarming rise in the targeting of pharmacies for high-value medications that remain out of reach for many.
