In an environmental chemist in Gurugram, “Wegovy ya Ozempic hey what??” [Do you have Wegovy or Ozempic?] has become a daily refrain. Since semaglutide lost patent protection in India on March 20, and dozens of low-cost generics flooded the market, retail pharmacies have increasingly become the first point of contact for weight loss hopefuls, often bypassing doctors altogether.
When asked if a recipe was needed, the immediate response was, “Nah. You take itYou will also receive a 15 percent discount. [No. You can just take it—we’ll even give you a 15 percent discount].”
When probed further about the need for a prescription, the pharmacist went behind the counter to check the stock and confirm that a prescription was indeed not required.
The experience seems to be similar across other metros. A prominent chemist in South Bengaluru gave the same response – even over the phone – except that he asked for hours to arrange the delivery. “If you want then I will ask.(if you want, I will arrange it for you.) “he said. The response is not different in some Ahmedabad-based chemists.
The rush towards GLP 1 weight loss drugs in India comes at a time when prices are falling sharply, availability is growing, and regulatory enforcement is struggling to keep pace. What was once a niche, specialist-driven therapy for diabetes and obesity risk became an unregulated lifestyle drug—sold over the counter with little oversight.
This GLP 1 drug is a Schedule H drug, which legally requires a valid prescription.
“Chemistry gives some discounts, and it is available without a prescription. Some people use a prescription for the first time, but to follow up orders rarely,” said a wholesale and retail seller based in Delhi. “Ideally, Schedule H drugs are supposed to be given by prescription. But that’s hardly the case,” he added.
There are also young women-often just slightly overweight-who ‘try’ this drug to lose weight quickly. Medication seems to be increasingly perceived as a quick fix for looking a certain way. But medical experts warn that GLP 1 drugs should not be used without the constant supervision of a doctor.
Vikrant Shrotriya from Novo Nordisk said that the company does not encourage the use of GLP 1 drugs without a prescription: “Today, the drug is available in good pharmacies all over the country, and we only hope and hope that good pharmacies follow local laws and do not dispense without a prescription.” He added that the company has consistently emphasized responsible use. “We insist on one very important message, and we keep repeating it: Please take this drug only if advised, and please take it through the right channel. That is our constant effort.
Forbes India spoke to Rajiv Singhal, secretary general, All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists, who said the GLP 1 drug is a “prescription drug and we do not promote it. It is not an OTC (over the counter) drug.”
The association, he said, had issued an official circular to all chemists, warning them against disinterested sales. Despite this, insiders claim to see an uptick in off label and non prescription dispensing, as demand surges and enforcement struggles to keep pace.
Regulatory scrutiny is getting tighter
The difference becomes clear when talking to patients for whom this drug is medically indicated. Chirag Shah, a 58-year-old diabetic and obese patient in Ahmedabad, has been in Mounjaro for two years.
“When it started out, I was told to start at a very low dose, and based on how my body reacted, the dosage was gradually increased,” he told Forbes India.
“In fact, when Ozempic was first released, it would have been an immediate choice for me—but because of my history with pancreatitis, I was advised against it. Even now, every two months, the doctor advises me to do sonography. There is constant monitoring.”
These are the risks and nuances that those who experiment with this medication alone may fail to recognize.
There are clear measures being taken by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) amid concerns over abuse.
In recent weeks, regulators have:
- reiterates that GLP 1 drugs are prescription only, approved only by prescription by specialists such as endocrinologists, internal medicine doctors and, in some cases, cardiologists.
- issued an advisory to manufacturers prohibiting surrogate advertising and indirect promotion that could encourage cosmetic use or turn off.
- conduct inspections across retail pharmacies, wholesalers, online pharmacies, and health clinics
- warns of license cancellation, penalties, and prosecution for unauthorized sales and improper dispensing practices
The government specifically expressed concern about the “on-demand availability” of weight loss drugs through retail pharmacies and health clinics, warning that unsupervised use could pose serious health risks. It is encouraging to note that some pharmacists Forbes India reporters spoke to in CR Park and Kalkaji in Delhi, as well as in Jabalpur, are insisting on valid prescriptions.
– Additional input from Samidha Jain
#Prescription #Needed #Ozempic #Wegovy #Sold #Free #India