{"id":512029,"date":"2026-03-03T17:30:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/512029\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T17:30:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:30:23","slug":"exclusive-weight-loss-at-what-cost-the-dark-side-of-ozempic-delivered-to-your-doorstep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/512029\/","title":{"rendered":"[Exclusive] Weight Loss At What Cost? The Dark Side Of Ozempic Delivered To Your Doorstep"},"content":{"rendered":"

Follow us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0TikTok<\/a>, and\u00a0WhatsApp<\/a>\u00a0for the latest stories and breaking news.<\/p>\n

Everyone’s doing it. It works. They got thinner \u2014 fast.<\/p>\n

So why pay hefty consultation fees when a doctor can prescribe the medicine over a text? One transfer later, and the drug arrives at your doorstep.<\/p>\n

SAYS’ months-long investigation found this not-so-secret shortcut is being fuelled by some alleged doctors and pharmacy practitioners who are willing to put profit ahead of patient safety.<\/p>\n

Elfina (not her real name) was one of the patients.<\/p>\n

Skipping proper checks and consultations, she bought the diabetes drug semaglutide, commonly known by its brand name, Ozempic, for weight loss.<\/p>\n

The results were immediate. In just two weeks, she lost 3kg.<\/p>\n

Then came the fallout, when she began noticing clumps of hair falling out.<\/p>\n

Elfina, who bought the drug from an alleged doctor at a beauty clinic, admitted she planned her own dosage and meals.<\/p>\n

She wasn’t alone.<\/p>\n

A scan across social media found users openly admitting to buying the pen-like drug without proper health screening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"SAYS.com\"<\/p>\n

A user claimed that the “doctor” she consulted only mentioned Ozempic’s side effects, while another was promoting the online sale of the prescribed medication.<\/p>\n

Image via SAYS<\/a><\/p>\n

Some offered tips to bypass prescriptions, leveraging online teleconsultation platforms, while others exchanged contacts of their alleged doctors.<\/p>\n

These alleged doctors are selling Ozempic and other diabetes medications such as Rybelsus and Mounjaro, for between RM700 and RM2,000.<\/p>\n

Some users also claimed to source the drug from Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

SAYS contacted several of these doctors through the contacts shared online, and most asked only a handful of questions.<\/p>\n

“Do you have any medical illness, allergies, thyroid issues, or a family history of thyroid cancer?”<\/p>\n

When the answer was no, prices were shared. Further explanations were offered via a call.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"SAYS.com\"<\/p>\n

Two “doctors” the journalists spoke to asked only basic questions before discussing the medicine’s price and claiming that no medical examination was necessary.<\/p>\n

Image via SAYS<\/a><\/p>\n

Their service even came with free WhatsApp consultations, available at any time.<\/p>\n

One doctor sent an image of what she claimed were Ozempic vials, complete with large and small needles and alcohol swabs.<\/p>\n

\"SAYS.com\"<\/p>\n

Picture of the purported Ozempic sold by an alleged doctor approached by the journalist.<\/p>\n

Image via SAYS<\/a><\/p>\n

But Gleneagles Hospital endocrinologist and diabetes specialist Dr Saiful Kassim said something was clearly wrong with the picture.<\/p>\n

“Ozempic only comes in a pre-filled pen. It does not come in vials.<\/p>\n

“Semaglutide is sold exclusively in a multidose pen by its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. <\/p>\n

“If it’s in a vial, it’s either a generic version or something else entirely,” he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"SAYS.com\"<\/p>\n

Dr Saiful Kassim said in Malaysia, Ozempic only comes in a pre-filled pen.<\/p>\n

Image via Dr Saiful Kassim (Provided to SAYS)<\/a><\/p>\n

Another alleged doctor was even more upfront, selling Ozempic outright and offering delivery anywhere, without asking a single medical question.<\/p>\n

“You can come weekly for injections or buy a pen and inject yourself at home. We can even post it to you,” read part of a templated message.<\/p>\n

While these doctors avoided revealing full details, SAYS was able to verify at least one as a licensed practitioner through the Malaysian Medical Council’s Medical Register.<\/p>\n

The consequences, Dr Saiful warns, are already showing up in hospitals<\/p>\n

He said he has treated many patients suffering from injection-site reactions, severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, all linked to improper use that stemmed from online purchasing.<\/p>\n

“They don’t know how to adjust the dose.<\/p>\n

“They come in severely dehydrated, needing IV fluids and hospital admission. Dehydration affects the kidneys \u2014 it can lead to kidney impairment or even kidney failure.<\/p>\n

“Some arrived with dangerously low blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n

“We even had a patient with altered behaviour, not knowing where they were because of severe hypoglycaemia,” he shared.<\/p>\n

And it’s not just fat being lost.<\/p>\n

“These patients are losing muscle mass too,” Dr Saiful said, adding that many were never taught how to eat properly while on the drug, making the weight loss unsustainable.<\/p>\n

“You can’t just give it to people and expect them to manage on their own. Supervision is critical,” he said.<\/p>\n

Dr Saiful said such drugs should only be prescribed by specialists and general practitioners who have special interest in Obesity and Diabetes (Diabesity). <\/p>\n

He stressed that obesity requires multidisciplinary management involving endocrinologists, nurses, diabetes educators and dietitians, covering everything from injections and dose adjustments to diet planning.<\/p>\n

Even teleconsultations fall short<\/p>\n

“You need to physically examine the patient.<\/p>\n

“You have to check for insulin resistance, examine the neck and armpits, assess injection sites and look for fat tissue changes.<\/p>\n

“All this has to be done face to face. Otherwise, you risk missing serious conditions,” he said.<\/p>\n

In the most severe cases, doctors who skip physical examinations could unknowingly prescribe the drug to patients with thyroid conditions, increasing their risk of thyroid cancer.<\/p>\n

The Health Ministry is not keeping silent.<\/p>\n

In fact, they have issued a stern warning: medical professionals caught selling prescription drugs will face uncompromising prosecution.<\/p>\n

The ministry’s Pharmaceutical Services Programme, in a statement to SAYS, said it takes all forms of unethical and unlawful conduct within the medical profession seriously, particularly those that compromise patient safety and the integrity of healthcare services.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more of the ministry’s response to SAYS’ exclusive reports here<\/a>.<\/p>\n