Telangana DCA Issues Notices to 43 Medical Shops Over Illegal Weight-Loss Drug Sales

The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) issued show-cause notices to 43 medical establishments across the state after uncovering widespread violations during a special enforcement drive against the illegal sale of weight-loss medicines on August 14.

The regulatory drive focused on drugs containing active ingredients such as Tirzepatide and Semaglutide, including commercial brands like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, as well as their generic formulations. DCA officials also inspected stocks to detect spurious and counterfeit versions circulating in the market amid a sharp rise in consumer demand.

Inspectors detected multiple breaches of the Drugs Rules across the 43 outlets. Key violations included dispensing prescription-only weight-loss drugs without required prescriptions from medical specialists, failing to issue or maintain purchase and sale bills, neglecting to maintain mandatory drug registers, and dispensing medicines in the absence of a registered pharmacist.

Following the inspection findings, the DCA served show-cause notices to all 43 non-compliant medical shops. The department confirmed that further punitive action will be initiated against the establishments under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The DCA advised citizens not to self-medicate with weight-loss formulations, warning that these medicines must only be used under direct specialist supervision. The authority also cautioned the public against buying pharmaceutical products from unregulated online platforms or unauthorised vendors, noting that such products could be counterfeit, spurious, or hazardous to health.