The head of a public health center in Tainan has been fined NT$100,000 for allegedly purchasing injectable GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and privately supplying them to people without a prescription.
An audit by the Tainan Public Health Bureau found that the Sinhua District (新化) Health Station had purchased 780 doses of injectable GLP-1 drugs, but only five doses were in inventory.
It was unable to provide the corresponding doctor’s prescription and usage records of the missing doses.
Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei Times
Station director Wu Cheng-ta (吳政達) yesterday admitted that he purchased the drugs and provided them to his friends and relatives, adding that he sold them at cost without making any profit.
Wu said he has acknowledged his mistake, and that his behavior lacked thorough consideration.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division of Medicinal Products senior specialist Liu Chia-ping (劉佳萍) called for the government to tighten oversight of the distribution and use of GLP-1 drugs, adding that the agency has collaborated with local health bureaus since 2024 to conduct special audits.
Starting in October last year, GLP-1 drugs were included into a drug traceability tracking and management system, requiring pharmaceutical companies to report monthly drug distribution data, she said.
The FDA this year expanded the scope of the audit by analyzing drug reporting data to identify abnormal distribution patterns, Liu said.
The agency has provided records to local health bureaus for further investigation, including the Sinhua District Health Station, she added.
While GLP-1s have gained wide public attention for their use in weight loss, the drugs cannot be purchased or used as over-the-counter products, the FDA said.
People seeking to lose weight should see a doctor for professional evaluation, and should only use drugs according to medical instructions, it said.
The FDA urged people not to acquire GLP-1s through relatives, friends, online platforms or other illegal channels, and avoid administering it on their own.
The agency would continue to monitor the supply of GLP-1s through drug traceability and reporting systems, it said, adding that any illegal supply or usage would be investigated and penalized according to the law.
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