New Delhi, March 24 -- India's health ministry warned Tuesday of the risks of unregulated use of weight-loss drugs, as lowcost generic versions hit the market, stepping up inspections and enforcement across the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The warning comes after patents on semaglutide -- the active ingredient in drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy -- expired on March 20 in India, the world's largest supplier of generic medicines.

Generic versions of the GLP-1 drugs -- referring to the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels and appetite -- will slash costs and transform the global fight against obesity.

But the Ministry of Health stressed that the drugs can only be used with a doctor's prescription.

"With the recent introduction of ...