MMA slams under-the-counter sale of diabetes meds for weight loss

2026-03-04 - 05:33

Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo criticised the sale of diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro as quick cosmetic solutions, saying they are not ‘lifestyle shortcuts’. (Reuters pic) PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has flagged a possible breach of professional ethics following reports that doctors are leasing their credentials to beauty clinics that supply prescription diabetes medications for weight loss without proper medical assessments. MMA president Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said doctors remained legally and professionally responsible for patient care, even if they were not physically supervising the clinics in question. “A letter of credentialing and privileging (LCP) is not a tradable document. It is a professional document tied to an individual doctor’s competence, clinical judgment and accountability. “When a clinic operates under a doctor’s name without genuine supervision, or when an LCP is effectively ‘rented’, responsibility does not disappear,” he said in a statement today. He said this responsibility could not be delegated to other clinics, and that doing so carried “potential medico-legal consequences under existing laws and professional regulations”. Thirunavukarasu’s comments came after online portal SAYS reported that people were buying prescription drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide – commonly known as Ozempic and Mounjaro – from beauty clinics without undergoing the requisite health checks and screening procedures. The portal reported that social media users were openly admitting to bypassing prescriptions to purchase Ozempic, and sharing the contact details of clinics willing to sell the drug, as well as other diabetes medications, for between RM700 and RM2,000. Thirunavukarasu criticised the sale of “potent metabolic medications” as quick cosmetic solutions, saying they were not “lifestyle shortcuts”. “Semaglutide and tirzepatide were developed for specific clinical indications, including diabetes and obesity management under structured medical supervision. “Prescribing these medicines without proper history-taking, risk assessment, baseline investigations, counselling and follow-up exposes patients to preventable harm,” he said, noting that side effects can range from severe gastrointestinal symptoms and dehydration to more serious complications. Thirunavukarasu said MMA would support investigation and enforcement actions by the authorities, and urged the public to exercise caution. “Patients should verify that their doctor is properly registered and that consultations include appropriate assessment and counselling. “No injection or procedure is risk-free, and informed consent requires full disclosure of benefits, risks and alternatives,” he said.