Risks Associated with Buying Health Products Sold Online

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider working with the Ministry of Education to share with school students the risks associated with buying health products especially those sold online.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) regularly educates the public on the risks of buying health products from dubious or unknown sources, including online purchases. For example, last year, HSA ran a six-week online campaign to educate consumers on such dangers. It included an animated YouTube video to explain the risks, and pop-up advisories targeted at consumers looking for health products online.

There are also efforts targeted specifically at school students. HSA has worked with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to include the risks of purchasing health products online in HPB’s school-based educational programmes. HSA has also collaborated directly with tertiary students from the local Polytechnics and Universities to reach out to their peers about the dangers of buying health products online.

HSA will continue to work with HPB and MOE to educate school students on the risks associated with buying health products from dubious online sites and the need for discernment when purchasing health products.