Public urged to use licensed pharmacies for weight‑loss drugs

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition is asking the public to be careful when obtaining prescription medicines, especially GLP‑1 products like Ozempic, which are used to treat diabetes and manage weight.

Chief Pharmacist Astrid Mondesir says the Ministry is increasingly concerned about reports of GLP‑1 medications and compounded versions being sold by unlicensed pharmacies.

“We recognise that many individuals are seeking effective treatments to improve their health and wellbeing,” she said. “Obtaining medications from unauthorised sources presents significant risks, including the possibility of receiving counterfeit, contaminated, improperly stored, expired, or incorrectly compounded products.”

Health officials remind everyone that prescription medicines should only be used with the guidance of a qualified doctor or authorised prescriber. It is important to have a medical check-up to ensure that any treatment is safe, effective, and appropriate for your condition.

Patients should talk to a licensed doctor before starting any GLP‑1 treatment and only get prescription medicines from registered pharmacies, as required by the Pharmacy Act CAP 11.21. The Ministry warns against buying medicines from unlicensed sellers, beauty shops, social media, or any place not authorised to dispense prescription drugs.

The Ministry says it wants to ensure patients stay safe and have access to high-quality, safe medicines.

“If you are considering treatment with a GLP‑1 medication, the most important thing to remember is this: speak with your physician first and obtain your medication only from a pharmacy,” Mondesir said.

The Ministry of Health promises to continue working to ensure that everyone in Saint Lucia can access safe, effective, and well-regulated healthcare and medicines.

The article Public urged to use licensed pharmacies for weight‑loss drugs is from St. Lucia Times.