Published Apr 24, 2026 | 1:25 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 24, 2026 | 1:25 PM
The statewide enforcement drive that focused on detecting spurious or counterfeit versions of weight-loss drugs.
Synopsis: Discrepancies were observed in 75 medical shops about non-compliance with the rules governing the sale of such medicines. Show-cause notices were issued to the norm-violating shops for initiating departmental action.
As many as 75 medical shops across Telangana were found selling popular weight-loss drugs without adhering to the rules.
Officials of the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) in Telangana said the drugs included Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
The discrepancies were found in a statewide enforcement drive that focused on detecting spurious or counterfeit versions of these high-demand drugs and identifying violations in their sale and distribution.
“Discrepancies were observed in 75 medical shops about non-compliance with the rules governing the sale of such medicines. Accordingly, show-cause notices have been issued to the violating shops for initiating departmental action,” said Shahnawaz Qasim, Director General of the DCA, in a press note.
Officials said the inspections uncovered a range of violations, particularly linked to the sale of drugs containing semaglutide and tirzepatide. There has been a surge in demand for weight-loss drugs after patent expiries enabled wider market entry of generic versions.
Key irregularities included the sale of prescription drugs without valid prescriptions from specialists, failure to issue bills, non-maintenance of sales and purchase records, and dispensing medicines in the absence of a registered pharmacist.
In several instances, shops failed to produce purchase invoices and did not maintain mandatory prescription drug registers.
The drive also reviewed the sale of newer generic semaglutide formulations, including multi-dose vials and pre-filled pens introduced by various companies.
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The DCA noted that the enforcement drive placed particular emphasis on curbing the circulation of spurious or counterfeit products, given the growing public demand for these drugs as weight-loss solutions.
Authorities warned that unsupervised use of such medications could lead to serious health complications.
“Weight-loss drugs containing tirzepatide and semaglutide shall be used strictly under the prescription of specialists such as endocrinologists and internal medicine specialists,” the DCA said in its advisory.
The regulator urged the public not to self-medicate or procure these drugs through unregulated online platforms or unauthorised sellers, cautioning that such products may be unsafe or substandard.
“These formulations shall be purchased only from licensed medical shops and only against a valid prescription issued by specialists,” the advisory stated.
The DCA said further action against the violators will be taken under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and related rules.
The public has also been encouraged to report suspected counterfeit drugs or illegal sales through the DCA’s toll-free helpline.
The crackdown signals tighter regulatory scrutiny as weight-loss drugs, originally developed for diabetes management, rapidly gain popularity beyond prescribed medical use.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
