Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine on Sunday called on citizens to stop buying “dangerous” diabetes medicine online.

The ministry also ordered those selling unauthorised medicine to stop immediately or face legal consequences.

Vandine said opportunists have been selling diabetes-related medicine and medical equipment online illegally.

“Diabetes treatment requires a medical check from a doctor. Buying medicine online could pose a danger.

“People who sell medicine online without authorisation from the health ministry must stop immediately. They have to obey the law. Selling medicine in any form must be authorised by the ministry,” she said.

She said people need to be well-informed about buying medicine and not believe the hype.

“If you don’t believe it, don’t buy it,” she said, adding the ministry has already fined or shut down some of the operators.

A medicine seller under the Facebook account “King of Khmer Traditional Medicine with Dragon Trademark” in Phnom Penh advertised that diabetics should instead use Khmer traditional medicine.

Chea Touch, a specialist in diabetes and former head of the Cambodia Diabetes Centre, said citizens should not use traditional medicine and should instead look for a medical specialist for treatment.

“Many people used to contact me to ask and I always tell them not to believe Facebook. None of the medicine sellers on Facebook are valid,” she said.