Australian telehealth startups face criticism over weight-loss drug prescriptions

Telehealth Practices Under Regulatory Scrutiny

The rise of weight-loss medications like Saxenda has created a surge in demand for online prescriptions, turning telehealth platforms into a lucrative market. Companies such as Eucalyptus—which operates the brands Juniper and Pilot—have come under fire for processes that critics argue prioritize volume over patient safety. Investigations by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed that some platforms recommend powerful injections after brief, text-based interactions, often without requiring any form of identification.

The Medical Board of Australia maintains that current telehealth guidelines explicitly require practitioners to verify a patient’s identity. Regarding the practices uncovered in recent reports, a board spokesperson noted that these requirements do not appear to have been met in scenarios where medications were prescribed without direct visual or identity confirmation.

Patient Risks and Medical Anxiety

According to a 2023 survey of 2,000 people by the market research company OnePoll, nearly half of American adults report feeling anxious before a doctor’s appointment. Dr. Daniel Sands, a primary care doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, emphasizes that such hesitancy has significant health consequences.

For patients avoiding in-person care, the risks include missed cancer screenings, uncontrolled blood pressure, and poorly managed diabetes. If you miss a cancer screening, you have a higher risk of developing cancer, Dr. Sands said. With uncontrolled high blood pressure, you could have a stroke or heart attack or develop kidney or heart failure. While telehealth can bridge gaps for those in remote areas, experts caution that it should not replace the necessary, thorough evaluation required for prescribing potent medications.

Verification and the Cost of Convenience

The ease of access provided by some online platforms is often framed as a solution to the looming obesity crisis, which some telehealth companies say could cost the economy $87.7 billion over the next decade. However, the process for obtaining these drugs is often rapid. In one test, investigators spent $395 to receive a month’s supply of Saxenda after providing inflated weight information—listing a weight of 95 kilograms instead of 55—without the provider querying the data or requesting identification.

The resulting shipment included a branded scale, a sharps disposal bin, and injection pens. This reliance on remote, standardized communication rather than clinical judgment remains a point of contention. While telehealth providers argue they are meeting a demand for service, critics maintain that the lack of rigorous identity and health checks exposes consumers to serious side effects and undermines the standard of care required for prescription-only weight-loss treatments.

Guidance on Seeking Professional Advice

For patients navigating weight-loss options or other medical concerns, experts suggest that seeking a second opinion is a valid and often necessary step, particularly for life-changing diagnoses or major procedures. Dr. Sands encourages patients to feel comfortable with this process. Patients should feel comfortable asking for a second opinion, he stated. It shouldn’t be a personal affront or a matter of ego to a doctor—it should be a matter of being open to hearing what another health professional says.

As the market for weight-loss medication continues to expand, the divide between the convenience offered by digital startups and the safety protocols demanded by medical boards remains a critical issue for patients to monitor. Those seeking care are advised to prioritize platforms that maintain strict adherence to clinical standards, including identity verification and comprehensive health history assessments.