At least 400 private doctors have prescribed the dangerous slimming drug phentermine to help people lose weight, a pharmacists' group says.
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists said 90 per cent were private medical practitioners and 5 per cent worked for beauty salons. One of the five major local suppliers of phentermine told the society the drug was sold to hundreds of private doctors.
'The drug company clearly told us at least 400 private doctors have prescribed phentermine and most of them are independent private doctors,' said William Chui Chun-ming, the group's education director.
'We want to tell members of the public that not only doctors at beauty salons are doing this but private doctors are doing it as well. These doctors use the drug in an irrational way and members of the public cannot receive appropriate treatments from them.'
The amphetamine-like drug works by controlling the central nervous system to suppress appetite. But its side effects can include insomnia, psychological dependence, an abnormal heartbeat and excessive nervousness.
The society said private doctors change the drug's name when prescribing it.