The Health Ministry has issued a warning to sellers against promoting or selling medicines on TikTok Live and other social media platforms, particularly unregistered weight-loss and beauty products, amid growing concerns over illegal online sales.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Rakyat that authorities are now confronting not only illegal medicines sold through conventional channels but also a surge in online promotion and e-commerce listings on platforms such as Lazada and Shopee.
“We are no longer dealing solely with the sale of illegal medicines. Social media is now being used to promote medicines, alongside online platforms such as Lazada and Shopee,” he said.
The ministry has conducted engagement sessions with e-commerce platforms through its pharmacy division, urging the removal of medicine-related advertisements and advising against the use of TikTok Live to sell or promote products that attract attention for weight-loss and beauty purposes.
Lukanisman noted that complaints and seizures involving unregistered medicines have continued to rise, with enforcement actions carried out under Regulation 7(1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984. Nearly RM120 million in compounds have been collected so far.
The deputy minister stressed that compliance monitoring for online advertisements of medicines and cosmetics is being intensified, and he urged Malaysians to exercise caution when purchasing health products online.
“Our enforcement is not just about imposing penalties — it is about saving lives,” he said.
