South Africans using compounded GLP-1 weight-loss medicines are being forced to reconsider how they access treatment following regulatory action against the commercial manufacture and distribution of unregistered products.
The crackdown has also exposed a growing tension in the weight-loss market: registered GLP-1 medicines can cost thousands of rands a month, while cheaper alternatives have attracted consumers looking for more affordable access.
Obiflex, a doctor-led weight-management programme, estimates that up to 300,000 South Africans have been affected by the regulatory action and puts the local appetite for weight-loss GLP-1 medicines at about R3 billion.
However, the company’s figures have not been independently verified by SAHPRA. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says its concern is not with legitimate, patient-specific compounding, but with the large-scale manufacture and distribution of unregistered medicines outside the legal framework for compounding.
In May 2026, SAHPRA, together with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), conducted an inspection at iDexis/Sentra Pharmacy in Silverton, Pretoria.
According to SAHPRA, inspectors identified GLP-1/GIP products being manufactured and supplied commercially, alongside concerns about the sourcing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, testing and sterile manufacturing conditions.
SAHPRA says unregistered medicines have not undergone its assessment for quality, safety and efficacy.
The regulator says potential risks include incorrect strength or dosing, inadequate purity testing, contamination, a lack of sterility, inappropriate ingredients and falsified products.
More concerningly, SAHPRA says it has received adverse-event reports, including hospitalisations, associated with products identified during its investigations.
The regulator has urged consumers to be vigilant about falsified and unauthorised GLP-1 products being sold outside legitimate medicine supply chains.
Patients experiencing unexpected or concerning symptoms are advised to seek medical attention and report suspected adverse reactions through the appropriate channels.
SAHPRA says patients currently using compounded GLP-1 medicines should not stop or change their treatment without consulting their healthcare professional.
While regulators are focused on safety and legality, affordability remains a major consideration for patients seeking weight-management treatment.
Registered GLP-1 medicines typically cost between R3,000 and R6,000 a month, excluding medical consultations, according to Obiflex.
Medical aid coverage can also be limited, with the company saying many schemes contribute towards treatment for members with a diabetes diagnosis, while people using the medicines specifically for weight management may have to pay out of pocket.
Shaun Barns, co-founder and CEO of Obiflex, says affordability was one of the factors that drove demand for cheaper compounded alternatives.
“Affordability pushed so many patients toward cheaper, unregistered compounded alternatives,” says Barns.
He says the demand for GLP-1 treatment will not disappear simply because certain unregistered supply routes have been disrupted.
“It risks people seeking other unregulated or illicit options,” he says.
SAHPRA, however, says it does not regulate medicine prices and that its mandate is to ensure health products meet required standards for quality, safety and efficacy.
The regulator warns that products sold outside legitimate supply chains may appear cheaper but can contain incorrect ingredients or amounts of active ingredients, harmful substances or no active ingredient at all.
Against this backdrop, Obiflex has introduced a payment model designed to spread the cost of its weight-management programme over several months.
Its three-month programme is offered through five monthly payments of R1,499, while its six-month programme is spread across nine monthly payments of R1,999.
The programmes include a virtual doctor consultation, health coaching, digital health-tracking tools, weekly wellness advice and door-to-door delivery.
Members access the service through WhatsApp or the web, without needing to download a new app.
Obiflex says its doctor network has been trained in the endocrinology and cardiology of weight management by co-founder Dr Riaz Motara.
The company says its approach combines low-dose GLP-1 treatment with structured lifestyle support, including guidance on nutrition, sleep, and movement.
Members can also track body composition, blood pressure, and other vital measurements, while more intensive one-on-one coaching is available for an additional fee.
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Barns says the programme was developed to address more than the cost of the medicine.
“We didn’t want to just make the medicine more affordable,” he says. “We want to offer proper medical support, coaching and a way to pay for GLP-1s.”
For consumers, the regulatory message is affordability should not come at the expense of knowing exactly what is being injected into the body.
SAHPRA advises consumers to obtain GLP-1 medicines through registered healthcare professionals and licensed pharmacies.
It specifically warns against products sold through social media, WhatsApp, gyms and unregulated websites, as well as unusually cheap products or injectable preparations of uncertain origin.
Consumers are also encouraged to verify that a product is a registered medicine and corresponds with its approved product information.
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- SAHPRA and SAPC took regulatory action against the commercial manufacture and distribution of unregistered compounded GLP-1 weight-loss medicines in South Africa.
- Up to 300,000 South Africans may be affected by the crackdown, with the local GLP-1 weight-loss market estimated at about R3 billion by Obiflex.
- SAHPRA's concerns focus on unregistered products lacking quality, safety, and efficacy testing, warning of risks including incorrect dosage, contamination, and adverse events.
- Registered GLP-1 medicines cost between R3,000 and R6,000 monthly, often without medical aid coverage for weight management, pushing patients toward cheaper unregulated alternatives.
- Obiflex offers weight-management programmes combining low-dose GLP-1 treatment with medical support and payment plans spread over several months to improve affordability and safety.
