New Straits Times

Monday, 27/06/2011

Rules on aesthetic surgeries welcomed

KUALA LUMPUR: Consumer associations yesterday lauded the Health Ministry's move to come up with guidelines for aesthetic practitioners, saying that it was long overdue.

However, they wanted the authorities to ensure strict enforcement to prevent quack doctors and beauticians from performing aesthetic procedures.

National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) chief executive Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said the guidelines must be binding to ensure full compliance.

While these aesthetic procedures were often regarded to be non-medical, he said surgeries were always risky.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma'amor Osman said like medical practitioners, beauticians should be regulated.

"Can they dispense medication and will they be allowed to use certain medical or surgical equipment?

"These must also be in the guidelines.

"The enforcement must be efficient, or it will be a waste of time as the beauty business is very lucrative.

"Guidelines will not prevent the mushrooming of illegal aesthetic centres."

Yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai announced that the guidelines, which would be included in the Medical Act, would give clear instructions and information to beauty salons, hospitals and the public on who would be qualified to carry out aesthetic surgeries.

Among the guidelines is practitioners are required to take up a special syllabus in order to be qualified.

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