Taiwan medical station chief fined over GLP-1 drugs
In Tainan, Taiwan, Wu Cheng-da, the head of the public medical station in Xinhua District, was fined NT$100,000 over the alleged purchase of injectable GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and their private distribution to people without prescriptions, the Taipei Times reports.
Inspection findings
An inspection by the Tainan Health Bureau found that the Xinhua District medical station had purchased 780 doses of injectable GLP-1 drugs. However, only five doses were in stock.
The institution was unable to provide relevant doctors' prescriptions and records of the use of the missing doses. Wu Cheng-da admitted that he had purchased the drugs and distributed them to friends and relatives. According to him, he sold the medicines at cost and made no profit.
The medical station chief also said that he acknowledges his mistake and that his actions were not sufficiently well thought out.
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Control over drug circulation
Liu Chia-ping, a senior specialist at the Food and Drug Administration's medicinal products division, said there is a need to strengthen oversight of the distribution and use of GLP-1 drugs. According to her, the agency has been conducting special inspections jointly with local health bureaus since 2024.
Since October 2025, GLP-1 drugs have been included in the drug tracking and circulation control system. Pharmaceutical manufacturers must report monthly on the distribution of such drugs. In 2026, the regulator expanded inspections, analyzing reporting data to identify unusual supply patterns, and forwarded records to local authorities for further investigation, including into the Xinhua District medical station.
The regulator emphasized that GLP-1 drugs cannot be purchased or used as over-the-counter medicines. People who want to lose weight were advised to consult a doctor, use medicines only in accordance with medical instructions, not obtain them through relatives, acquaintances, online platforms or other illegal channels, and not administer injections themselves.
