Asking for Mounjaro Met With "No Need for Consultation"… Pediatricians Unseen

[Anchor]

As more people look for obesity treatment injections, large quantities are now being supplied even to pediatric and adolescent clinics. The problem, however, is that some pediatric clinics are prescribing them without proper medical examinations, raising growing concerns over misuse and abuse.

Reporter Park Ha-jeong investigated.

[Reporter]

A pediatric and adolescent clinic in Gyeonggi Province.

[(What brings you in?) I'm here for a consultation about Mounjaro.]

Guidance begins simultaneously with measuring height and weight.

[Person A / Hospital Staff: The wait is long, so if you don't really need a consultation with the doctor and just want to take it with you, you can take it.]

The refrigerator is packed with injections.

Contradicting the notice stating that "a doctor administers the first injection," staff explain that this is not necessary.

[Person A / Hospital Staff: If you want, you can get it shot here before you leave, or you can just learn how and do it yourself at home.]

It was not a doctor who explained how to administer the injection.

[Person B / Hospital Staff: Press firmly with your hand, and a little later it will go 'click.' That means it's done. Read this and do it.]

Without ever meeting a doctor, a full box containing four Mounjaro injections—a one-month supply—was handed over.

Mounjaro, a prescription drug, can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, or in severe cases, pancreatitis, and must strictly go through a doctor's examination and prescription.

From January to July this year, a total of approximately 7.22 million Mounjaro units were supplied to clinics nationwide, of which about 367,000 units were supplied to pediatric and adolescent clinics.

In South Korea, Mounjaro is approved only for individuals aged 18 and older, as safety and efficacy have not been established for those under 18.

While it is not the case that only minors receive treatment at pediatric clinics, and minors can also receive treatment at internal medicine or other departments, this raises questions about whether safety measures for minors are functioning properly.

Regulations allow Mounjaro to be administered at hospitals only when a doctor gives the first injection for the purpose of teaching how to administer it, but this rule is also being ignored.

[Seo Mi-hwa / National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee Member (Democratic Party): Bitter criticisms continue that it has degraded into a money-making scheme rather than treatment; periodic monitoring of abnormal figures in the prescription quantity per visit or prescription period at specific medical institutions is necessary, among other measures.]

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is pushing to designate Mounjaro as a drug of concern for misuse and abuse.

However, because it amounts to little more than printing guidance phrases on the packaging, critics point out that more proactive measures are needed.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News / Video reporting: Kim Yong-woo, Video editing: Jeong Yong-hwa, Design: Seo Seung-hyun)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.