A weight-loss clinic in the Ram Intra area has been ordered to close for 15 days after an assistant, rather than a licensed doctor, administered a slimming injection to a client, causing severe side effects that led to emergency hospital admission.
The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), alongside the Thai Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) and the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), launched a raid on the facility following a social media outcry.
Dr. Phuwadej Surakhot, director general of the DHSS, revealed yesterday that the investigation was triggered by reports of a female patient who suffered from violent vomiting and required urgent medical care after visiting the clinic.
Relatives of the victim stated that no medical practitioner was present to examine her or review her medical history prior to the procedure, which posed a severe danger to her health.
According to officials, the patient visited the clinic on May 29 seeking a weight-loss treatment using the drug Mounjaro. She requested a treatment with minimal side effects, leading clinic staff to recommend a different product called VitaPeptix™ NOVOTRIMPLUS+.
An assistant at the clinic subsequently administered the injection using a slimming pen. While the patient initially felt fine, she developed a high fever the following day. Staff assured her it was merely a standard side effect for first-time users.
By May 31, her condition had deteriorated significantly, requiring her admission to a private hospital in the Sai Mai district.
A thorough inspection of the premises and medical records by authorities exposed a litany of regulatory breaches under the Sanatorium Act B.E. 2541 (1998).
Investigators found that the individual who performed the medical procedure was a clinic assistant instead of a certified physician.
Furthermore, outpatient medical records were incomplete, lacking essential details and bearing no signatures from licensed medical professionals.
Medicine packaging also failed to display crucial information, including the clinic’s name, address and the expiry date of the medication.
During the raid, TFDA and CPPD officials discovered that the VitaPeptix™ NOVOTRIMPLUS+ product used on the patient was entirely unregistered and illegal. Legal action is now being taken against the clinic’s operators in addition to the immediate 15-day closure order.
Dentist Arkom Praditsuwan, deputy director general of the DHSS, issued a stern warning regarding the dangers of unverified medical products. He stated that every single medicine and all medical supplies used on patients must undergo rigorous quality and standards checks, and be officially registered with the TFDA to guarantee safety.
Using unregistered substances exposes patients to severe health risks from contaminants or substandard ingredients, which can lead to life-threatening complications.
Dr. Arkom added that such practices not only endanger lives but also cause patients to lose out on legitimate medical treatments due to false advertising, allowing underlying conditions to worsen.
The DHSS urges the public, in all cases, to question the specific names and registration status of any products being administered to them before receiving any service.
Consumers should remain highly skeptical of any weight-loss treatments promising rapid results within three to seven days, or those claiming to work without the need for dietary control and exercise.
The public can verify product registration numbers via the TFDA website at https://oryor.com/. Suspicious operations or clinics can be reported directly to the DHSS hotline on 02-193-7000.
