Thailand makes weight-loss pens prescription-only to counter glut of illegal medicines
Por Aidan Jones — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement Thailand This Week in Asia Health & Environment Thailand makes weight-loss pens prescription-only to counter glut of illegal medicines
The country’s consumer watchdog aims to help patients receive ‘higher quality, safer, and more appropriate for their treatment’
3 -MIN READ 3 -MIN Listen
Aidan Jones Published: 7:21pm, 18 Sep 2026 Thailand has moved to make weight-loss pens prescription-only, as a glut of the GLP-1 medicines – which mimic the hormones released once someone is full – floods the black market and influencers swarm TikTok to extol the quick wins of the simple injections.
The Southeast Asian nation, which is never far behind wellness or aesthetic trends and has a notorious black market in counterfeit drugs, has seen the uptake of GLP-1 medicines skyrocket, doctors say, including the market-leading Ozempic brand.
But doctors have warned that the US$240 to US$360 monthly cost of having the drugs prescribed by doctors has caused a black market to mushroom, including a tsunami of fake and potentially dangerous smuggled medicines.
Select Voice Select Speed 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 00:00 1x AI-generated voice
