The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a warning regarding GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) products being promoted and sold on social media platforms for weight loss, and which claim to be affiliated with or authorised by SAHPRA and major retail pharmacies.
SAHPRA has said the products, which it has not approved, are being shipped from China via post offices, not from a warehouse in Johannesburg or Cape Town, as stated in the advertisements. Neither are the products identical to the advertised items.
The regulator said the drugs may contain dangerous/harmful ingredients and that a list of medicines registered in South Africa can be found on its website.
It has urged people to report any suspicious medicine sales or false claims of SAHPRA approval to its 24-hour hotline (0800 204 307) or via its web reporting facility: https://bit.ly/3nrku5t
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