KUCHING: Authorities have been urged to clamp down on online sales of unregistered medicines and supplements.
The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, a Kuala Lumpur-based independent public policy research and advocacy organisation, says the government needs to strengthen and update its current regulatory and enforcement framework in order to improve surveillance, consumer safety and protection.
“The relevant authorities must work quickly and adapt better to address this emerging problem,” said the organisation’s chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib.
The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan organisation dedicated to discussing health and social issues through the lens of public policy.
Azrul in a media statement issued today said: “The proliferation of sellers and vendors using social media and popular online shopping platforms to sell these products, arguably by-passes the enforcement of stringent safety, quality and health protections currently in place to protect Malaysian consumers.”
“We work to improve health and social conditions through research, advocacy, networking and relationship-building.
“It has become increasingly common for Malaysians to look online for cheaper alternatives of existing drugs and supplements, believing that because they are openly available on these platforms therefore, they must be legitimate and safe,” he added.
Azrul said often these products were sourced from other countries such as China, Japan and Thailand, making their quality and authenticity hard to verify.
“These may be unregistered and unapproved by the Ministry of Health, and contain controlled or even banned substances that are hazardous and dangerous to health.”
Azrul lamented that with little or no understanding of the use and optimal dosage of drugs and supplements, online vendors might also be selling overdosed products, putting consumers at risk.
“Aside from strict exemptions regarding personal use, medicines or supplements not registered with the Ministry of Health are not allowed to be sold or brought into the country, including those purchased online,” he stressed.
He said consumers needed to be aware, make informed decisions and insist on purchasing their registered medicines and supplements from reputable brands and sources.
They could also help authorities by submitting information or reports of suspicious or unregistered drugs and supplements being sold online, especially those on Malaysian-based shopping platforms, Azrul added.
