Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH) has highlighted growing concerns over medicines sold through unauthorised online channels, with enforcement authorities seizing 130,678 illegal pharmaceutical products worth RM3.15 million under Operation Pangea XVIII Malaysia in 2026.
The figures were highlighted during the UNKNOWN SOURCES: Know the Source Before You Trust the Promise forum, held in Kuala Lumpur on 4 November 2026, which brought together healthcare professionals, enforcement authorities and industry representatives to address the risks of obtaining medicines from unverified sources.
Supported by Novo Malaysia, the forum reinforced the Ministry's existing Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah (TOBaTS) public-awareness initiative, encouraging consumers to verify medicine registration, seek professional advice and report suspicious products or sellers.
According to the MOH's Pharmacy Enforcement Division (BPF), authorities received 101 complaints and conducted 47 raids involving weight-loss products between January and September 2026. Of these, 30 raids were linked to online sales, with seizures valued at RM771,517.
The enforcement findings come amid increasing public interest in medicines for chronic conditions, including diabetes and weight management, raising concerns about misleading claims, inappropriate access and products distributed outside established healthcare channels.
The figures were highlighted during the UNKNOWN SOURCES: Know the Source Before You Trust the Promise forum, held in Kuala Lumpur on 4 November 2026, which brought together healthcare professionals, enforcement authorities and industry representatives to address the risks of obtaining medicines from unverified sources.
Supported by Novo Malaysia, the forum reinforced the Ministry's existing Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah (TOBaTS) public-awareness initiative, encouraging consumers to verify medicine registration, seek professional advice and report suspicious products or sellers.
According to the MOH's Pharmacy Enforcement Division (BPF), authorities received 101 complaints and conducted 47 raids involving weight-loss products between January and September 2026. Of these, 30 raids were linked to online sales, with seizures valued at RM771,517.
The enforcement findings come amid increasing public interest in medicines for chronic conditions, including diabetes and weight management, raising concerns about misleading claims, inappropriate access and products distributed outside established healthcare channels.
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| From left: Mawar Abd Latiff, Senior Manager at the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia; Honorary Professor Amrahi Buang, President of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society; Dr Azuana binti Ramli, Deputy Director-General of Health (Pharmaceutical Services), Ministry of Health Malaysia; Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, President of the Malaysian Medical Association; and Tee Loong Tek, Head of Market Access and Public Affairs, Novo Nordisk Malaysia, at the UNKNOWN SOURCES forum. Photo: Event organiser. |
Illegal Medicine Enforcement Targets Online Sales
During Operation Pangea XVIII Malaysia, authorities also blocked or removed 2,294 online links associated with illegal pharmaceutical sales.
BPF inspected 497 postal packages, resulting in the seizure of 49 packages containing illegal pharmaceutical products valued at RM766,721.
Mohd Zawawi Abdullah, Director of Pharmacy Enforcement at the MOH, said medicines obtained from unknown or unauthorised sources could pose serious risks to public health.
He emphasised that enforcement efforts include monitoring online advertisements, removing illegal listings, seizing products and investigating sellers who violate the law.
Collaboration among enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical companies, e-commerce platforms and other stakeholders is also important in addressing unlawful medicine distribution, particularly through digital platforms.
Why a Genuine-Looking Medicine May Still Be Unsafe
The forum highlighted that medicine safety involves more than determining whether a product appears genuine.
Medicines obtained from unknown sources may be unregistered, supplied illegally, stored under unsuitable conditions or purchased without the medical assessment necessary for appropriate treatment.
Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, said: "The question is not only whether a medicine appears genuine. We also need to ask whether it is appropriate for that person, whether they have been properly assessed and who is monitoring their treatment."
He explained that medical consultations allow doctors to consider patients' existing conditions, medical history, other medications and potential risks before treatment begins.
Professional follow-up is also important when patients experience side effects or require changes to their treatment.
Honorary Professor Amrahi Buang, President of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society, similarly highlighted the role of licensed pharmacies in helping consumers understand medicine registration, prescription requirements, correct usage and storage conditions.
A product's appearance or an online listing alone cannot establish whether it has been transported and stored appropriately.
How Malaysians Can Verify Medicines Using MyUBAT
Dr Azuana binti Ramli, Deputy Director-General of Health (Pharmaceutical Services) at the MOH, urged consumers to verify the source of medicines before purchasing or using them.
"Patient safety begins long before a medicine is taken. As access to medicines becomes increasingly digital, consumers must be empowered to verify medicine registration, purchase from legitimate sources, seek professional advice when needed, and report suspicious products or activities."
The Ministry uses holographic security labels on registered pharmaceutical products as one measure to help consumers identify legitimate medicines.
Consumers can check the authenticity of the FarmaTag hologram through the MyUBAT smartphone application.
The forum reinforced three practical steps for consumers:
Novo Malaysia Supports MOH's TOBaTS Awareness Campaign
The UNKNOWN SOURCES forum was organised to support the Ministry of Health's existing TOBaTS public-awareness platform rather than introduce a replacement campaign.
Tee Loong Tek, Market Access and Public Affairs Director at Novo Malaysia, said growing access to health information could encourage people to seek appropriate care but also increased the importance of reliable sources.
"People are encountering more health information, more claims and more offers than ever before. That can be positive when it encourages people to understand their health and seek appropriate support, but it also makes trusted information and legitimate pathways increasingly important."
He said Novo's involvement aimed to extend public education on responsible medicine access and bring stakeholders together around the principle of checking the source before trusting product claims.
The TOBaTS initiative provides an existing framework for public education about the risks of illegal medicines and the importance of legitimate medicine supply channels.
More information about the campaign is available through the Ministry of Health's TOBaTS information page.
During Operation Pangea XVIII Malaysia, authorities also blocked or removed 2,294 online links associated with illegal pharmaceutical sales.
BPF inspected 497 postal packages, resulting in the seizure of 49 packages containing illegal pharmaceutical products valued at RM766,721.
Mohd Zawawi Abdullah, Director of Pharmacy Enforcement at the MOH, said medicines obtained from unknown or unauthorised sources could pose serious risks to public health.
He emphasised that enforcement efforts include monitoring online advertisements, removing illegal listings, seizing products and investigating sellers who violate the law.
Collaboration among enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical companies, e-commerce platforms and other stakeholders is also important in addressing unlawful medicine distribution, particularly through digital platforms.
Why a Genuine-Looking Medicine May Still Be Unsafe
The forum highlighted that medicine safety involves more than determining whether a product appears genuine.
Medicines obtained from unknown sources may be unregistered, supplied illegally, stored under unsuitable conditions or purchased without the medical assessment necessary for appropriate treatment.
Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, said: "The question is not only whether a medicine appears genuine. We also need to ask whether it is appropriate for that person, whether they have been properly assessed and who is monitoring their treatment."
He explained that medical consultations allow doctors to consider patients' existing conditions, medical history, other medications and potential risks before treatment begins.
Professional follow-up is also important when patients experience side effects or require changes to their treatment.
Honorary Professor Amrahi Buang, President of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society, similarly highlighted the role of licensed pharmacies in helping consumers understand medicine registration, prescription requirements, correct usage and storage conditions.
A product's appearance or an online listing alone cannot establish whether it has been transported and stored appropriately.
How Malaysians Can Verify Medicines Using MyUBAT
Dr Azuana binti Ramli, Deputy Director-General of Health (Pharmaceutical Services) at the MOH, urged consumers to verify the source of medicines before purchasing or using them.
"Patient safety begins long before a medicine is taken. As access to medicines becomes increasingly digital, consumers must be empowered to verify medicine registration, purchase from legitimate sources, seek professional advice when needed, and report suspicious products or activities."
The Ministry uses holographic security labels on registered pharmaceutical products as one measure to help consumers identify legitimate medicines.
Consumers can check the authenticity of the FarmaTag hologram through the MyUBAT smartphone application.
The forum reinforced three practical steps for consumers:
- Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting medication, particularly when treatment requires medical supervision.
- Verify medicine registration and authenticity, including checking the FarmaTag hologram through MyUBAT and obtaining products from legitimate sources.
- Report suspicious medicines, advertisements or sellers to the appropriate authorities.
Novo Malaysia Supports MOH's TOBaTS Awareness Campaign
The UNKNOWN SOURCES forum was organised to support the Ministry of Health's existing TOBaTS public-awareness platform rather than introduce a replacement campaign.
Tee Loong Tek, Market Access and Public Affairs Director at Novo Malaysia, said growing access to health information could encourage people to seek appropriate care but also increased the importance of reliable sources.
"People are encountering more health information, more claims and more offers than ever before. That can be positive when it encourages people to understand their health and seek appropriate support, but it also makes trusted information and legitimate pathways increasingly important."
He said Novo's involvement aimed to extend public education on responsible medicine access and bring stakeholders together around the principle of checking the source before trusting product claims.
The TOBaTS initiative provides an existing framework for public education about the risks of illegal medicines and the importance of legitimate medicine supply channels.
More information about the campaign is available through the Ministry of Health's TOBaTS information page.
