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A weight-loss drug crackdown could hit 300 000 South Africans – and leave some patients facing bills of up to R6 000.
Weight-loss drugs: Crackdown could hit 300 000 South Africans A weight-loss drug crackdown could hit 300 000 South Africans – and leave some patients facing bills of up to R6 000.
A crackdown on illegally compounded weight-loss drugs could affect up to 300 000 South Africans who rely on GLP-1 treatments. Image: Pexels, leaving patients with fewer and potentially far more expensive treatment options. Regulatory and legal action has targeted pharmacies illegally compounding GLP-1 medicines used for weight management.
“There are hundreds of thousands of South Africans, wanting to go on this weight-loss journey but they just simply can’t afford the R4000 to R6000,” Barns said. Patients who cannot afford registered alternatives could turn to unregulated products sold through unofficial channels. Consumers should only obtain scheduled medicines through legitimate healthcare channels and accredited pharmacies.between the dose stated on some product labels and what the products actually contained.
That leaves patients who previously relied on cheaper compounded products facing a difficult decision. They can move to a registered alternative, stop treatment or risk buying products from an unregulated source. Health authorities have warned that the last option could expose users to medicines that have not undergone the necessary checks for quality, safety and dosage. SAHPRA has urged consumers to check where their medicine comes from before buying weight-loss products, especially those advertised online or through social media.
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