Delhi starts training chemists on norms to sell weight-loss drugs

Delhi's drug control department trains chemists to prevent misuse of weight-loss drugs post-generic influx, conducting inspections for illegal sales.

New Delhi

Multiple generic variants of GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs are making their way into the market. (Representative photo/Adobe Stock Photo)

To prevent misuse of weight-loss drugs—given the inflow of low-cost generics after the patent on semaglutide, the key ingredient of Ozempic and Wegovy, expired on March 20—the drugs control department of Delhi has started training chemists to curb their sale without medical prescriptions.

The department, in collaboration with the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), is also conducting surprise inspections across the city.

An official with the state drug control department, who did not wish to be named, said, “Following the advisory issued by the central government over concerns on the anticipated misuse of the generic weight-loss drugs, the department has taken multiple inspections across the city to see if there are malpractices in procuring or selling these drugs. These are preventive measures to ensure deterrence to illegal sales.”

In an advisory on March 10, the Union health ministry warned of the adverse effects of these drugs when used without proper medical supervision and said it has initiated targeted actions to curb possible malpractice over multiple generic variants of GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs.

The officials cited above said that checks started on March 18, and violations were found in five of seven inspections. “We did surprise visits at clinics, where we found that without the presence of an endocrinologist, prescriptions were being given to procure these drugs. Further, in some cases, we also found that pharmacies were selling these drug without a proper prescription. Appropriate actions have been taken against those found in violation. The inspections are going to continue for the next couple of weeks,” the official said.

In India, only endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, and cardiologists can prescribe the drug. “We are educating the members of chemist association to check if they are getting prescriptions then they should first verify that theses are prescribed by appropriate medical practitioners,” the official said.