LETTERS: THE sheer number of products sold online makes it challenging for regulatory bodies to monitor them, especially imported ones.
It is a legal requirement for medical devices to be registered with the Medical Device Authority (MDA) to safeguard the health and safety of patients and consumers.
Typically, the level of control the MDA places on medical devices depends on associated risks to users.
Medical devices need to be assessed and tested to ensure they meet quality and safety standards.
A study by a team at Universiti Malaya reported that most dental brace materials sold online were not registered with the MDA.
These products may be of poor quality, counterfeit, expired or contain dangerous and prohibited ingredients.
There have been reports about illegal medication, such as period regulation and breast enhancement tablets, marketed as supplements, rather than drugs, to confuse consumers.
Up until October, the MDA has seized unregistered medical devices totalling more than RM500,000.
In Malaysia, some people buy cheap dental braces online in bulk to set up brace-fitting services. These services are referred to as fake braces in the media.
Fake braces can lead to worsening of teeth alignment, development of cavities, onset of gum disease and tooth fractures.
There is also the danger of ions and metals leaching from counterfeit materials.
Consumers can check a company's licence and their medical devices at MDA's website at www.mda.gov.my, or its medical device database at mdar.mda.gov.my.
DR YASMIN KAMARUDIN &
DR NOR NADIA ZAKARIA
Faculty of Dentistry,
Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times