Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has urged patients to be cautious while opting for cosmetic procedures and healing therapies as many health centres may not offer what they actually claim to have to offer.
A senior official at MOHAP issued a warning on Saturday against cases of malpractice impacting patients in some medical centres and clinics that do not comply with the official health regulations.
The alert was issued as part of efforts to raise awareness among the community and to protect all individuals from malpractices at unlicensed beauty centres.
Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at MOHAP, noted that unlicensed cosmetic procedures can lead to serious complications.
He added that most of these procedures are being conducted by non-specialised professionals with no medical background who use poor-quality cosmetic products and operate in environments that lack hygiene and proper sterilisation and do not offer access to emergency care in case of complication that could be in the form of burns, fainting, fatigue and other health complications.
He said that these practices happen outside the network of licensed health institutions in UAE.
“Some unlicensed beauty centres may temporarily employ visiting doctors or cosmeticians who bring in low-quality cosmetics, and conceal patient medical reports. This sort of malpractice is a criminal offence and is deemed punishable by law,” said Al Amiri.
Al Amiri also discussed popular procedures such as Botox and fillers, in addition to other unmonitored use of laser procedures.
He noted that some people working in the field of beauty do not have any form of medical education, and they perform procedures in which they do not specialise. Some fake practitioners even offer home-based services.
The official also urged residents to be wary of nutritional supplements with therapeutic claims and hormonal supplements being offered in fitness centres without having the necessary licensing, and that poses health threats and can cause complications.
He noted that some fitness centres sell and promote supplements that claim to achieve enhanced muscle structure, under the supervision of trainers who lack experience and are unaware of the risks borne by these products, its source, quality and licensing status.
“This can lead to a number of complications that affect the liver and kidneys. We have noticed an increasing number of cases of hospitalisation as a result of consuming these medications, and mainly the injectable hormones. The ministry works in cooperation with different municipalities to monitor these nutritional substances being sold to young people and bodybuilders,” he said.
He requested residents to be careful while opting for procedures and therapies, while urging them to contact the ministry or local health authorities should they know of any malpractice being conducted.
