PUTRAJAYA: A thorough study will be conducted before any decision is made to list etomidate as a dangerous drug under the law, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said that the ministry took heed of the recent proposal to list the substance under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 but would not make a hasty decision without proper evidence.
"At the moment, etomidate is listed under Second Part of the Poisons Act under Category B as 'intravenous sedatives and anesthesia' used in clinical practice.
"It is not an issue as it is already listed under the Poisons Act but not under the Dangerous Drugs Act, " he told reporters at a press conference after launching the National Health Technology Assessment Conference 2025 here on Wednesday (July 30).
Dzulkefly was responding to a proposal made by Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii to list etomidate as a dangerous drug following reports of deaths caused by the drug in Singapore.
Yii said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 28) that etomidate was being misused as a recreational substance in vape products, often marketed as Kpods.
He said the misuse of etomidate could result in death due to severe respiratory distress, sudden unconsciousness, injury and adrenal crisis.
Yii said Kpods, which often contain etomidate, are marketed at young people.
It was reported that Singapore is working to list etomidate as a Class C drug under its Misuse of Drugs Act.
Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was recently reported to have said that random tests found that one-third out of 100 vape devices seized were found to contain etomidate.
