Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
828. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the plans to tackle the promotion and sale of counterfeit obesity medicines online and offline which are in breach of the law, endanger public health and can contribute to organised crime. [32947/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1173. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps planned to protect patients' safety in light of recent figures from the HPRA that show a major spike in the volume of illegally sourced obesity medicines detained last year. [32944/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1174. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action she intends to take to protect patients from the health risks of the rapidly increasing availability of counterfeit obesity medicines which are untested, unregulated and unlicensed. [32945/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 828, 1173 and 1174 together.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the agency with responsibility for the regulation of medicines in Ireland and have an enforcement role with regard to illegal medicines.
The Department of Health supports the HPRA in the exercise of its statutory functions and continues to work closely with them to ensure regulatory oversight and to promote public awareness of the serious risks associated with sourcing prescription medicines from unauthorised suppliers.
This work includes a focus on weight-loss medication also known as Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a type of prescription medicine authorised for the treatment of diabetes or for weight management under certain conditions, or both. The HPRA works in close co-operation with colleagues from An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service. There continues to be significant inter-agency collaboration to combat the illegal supply of health products into and within Ireland. The HPRA also co-operates and shares intelligence with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies across Europe and worldwide to prevent the illegal manufacture, importation and distribution of medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics.
As part of its enforcement remit, the HPRA continues to monitor and disrupt online activity promoting unauthorised medicines, with 4,762 web pages, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages amended or shut down in 2025. This figure includes web pages linked to falsified weight loss products and the HPRA engages with website providers and social media companies in relation to the illegal online supply of weight-loss medication in Ireland.
The HPRA plays an active role in protecting public health by raising awareness of the risks associated with buying prescription medicines online and has repeatedly warned of the health risks associated with the use of GLP-1 medicines that have been obtained outside of the legitimate pharmacy setting and without a prescription supplied by a doctor providing professional oversight.
It publishes dedicated consumer information on its website–available in multiple languages-clearly outlining the dangers of buying prescription medicines online, including the risks of unauthorised, falsified and substandard products.
To reinforce this messaging, the HPRA has also delivered targeted public awareness campaigns using digital and social media channels. For example, the HPRA has recently run an online campaign highlighting that medicines purchased online may not contain the correct ingredients, may be unsafe, and are not subject to the safeguards that apply when medicines are supplied through recognised and regulated sources such as pharmacies. This campaign is designed to reach people where online purchasing decisions are often made and to encourage safer choices.
In addition, the HPRA engages regularly with the media by providing factual information and public health advice through proactive engagement, press releases and in response to queries, helping to ensure that accurate, balanced messaging reaches the public.
Across all of this work, the HPRA consistently advises that prescription medicines should only be obtained through regulated channels, where appropriate medical supervision is in place, and where patients can have confidence in the quality, safety and authenticity of their medicines.
