Choosing a safe clinic: checklist

1. BIG-registered doctor and personal contact with a doctor

A safe clinic works with a doctor who is registered in the BIG register, the official register for healthcare providers in the Netherlands. You can check this registration yourself. It is also important that you actually have contact with a doctor and do not merely fill in a questionnaire without any further assessment. During the doctor's intake, the doctor should seriously assess your eligibility.

2. Delivery via a recognised pharmacy

The medication should be delivered by a pharmacy recognised in the Netherlands. That provides certainty about the origin, storage and quality of the medicine. If it is unclear where the medication comes from, or if it comes directly from abroad without a pharmacy, be cautious. Also read how to recognise counterfeits, because counterfeit GLP-1 pens do occur.

3. Transparent prices per dose

With a reliable clinic you know in advance what you pay: for the medication per dose, for the intake and for the guidance. Hidden costs or vague 'package prices' without explanation are a warning sign. Because the price usually rises as the dose is built up, a clear price overview per step is important. Compare the current rates at costs and check whether reimbursement is possible.

4. Guidance and dietitian

Medication alone is not enough. A good clinic offers guidance during the treatment journey and, ideally, access to a dietitian or lifestyle coach. That helps you with nutrition, dealing with side effects and maintaining results. Also ask how the clinic deals with stopping and preventing a yo-yo effect.

5. No offers without a prescription

This is a hard line. GLP-1 medication is prescription-only. A provider that sells medication without a prescription or without a genuine medical assessment is acting unsafely and possibly illegally. Walk away from web shops that ask for your credit card but not about your medical situation. Also read why this can be so risky.

6. Reviews and independent information

Reviews can help, but read them critically: look for a realistic picture rather than only glowing stories, and be alert to fake reviews. Combine reviews with independent information. On our clinic page you will find a transparency score with which you can compare providers objectively, and on our sources page you can read what our information is based on.

Frequently asked questions