Press Releases

SFH on differentiation between medical procedures and beauty services

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, at a media stand-up on differentiation between medical procedures and beauty services at the lobby of West Wing, Central Government Offices, this afternoon (November 1):

Secretary for Food and Health: This afternoon I convened the second meeting of the Steering Committee on Review of the Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities.

The meeting endorsed the report summited by the Working Group on Differentiation between Medical Procedures and Beauty Services which over the past one year examined the risks of 35 types of cosmetic procedures and finally made seven recommendations in its report.

The Working Group is of the view that high-risk cosmetic procedures should be regulated and some procedures, for example procedures involving injections of botulinum toxin A, dermal fillers, skin whitening agents and platelet-rich plasma as well as dental bleaching, should only be performed by registered medical practitioners or registered dentists.

The Working Group had also discussed colonic irrigation and procedures involving the use of devices which emit different forms of energy such as laser. Given the heterogeneity of such devices, the Working Group supports the Administration's plan to implement control over their use through legislation. The Steering Committee in principle agrees with the recommendation of the working group. However, the Steering Committee is of the view that colonic irrigation, which would pose a risk to users, should be regulated.

The Department of Health will issue an advisory note on the provision of cosmetic procedures to beauty service providers, reminding them to refrain from procedures that should only be performed by registered medical practitioners or registered dentists.

Failure to follow the advice may render oneself liable for offences under the Medical Registration Ordinance or the Dentists Registration Ordinance.

The Department of Health will also send letters to all medical practitioners reminding them to strictly adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct issued by the Medical Council of Hong Kong when they provide cosmetic procedures in their medical practice, including providing formal medical consultation and keeping proper records.

We will also step up public education to raise public awareness on the risks associated with cosmetic procedures.

We will later report all these recommendations to the Panel on Health Services of the Legislative Council.

Reporter: (On why the laser procedure is not being included in the guidelines.)

Secretary for Food and Health: Regarding the laser procedure, the Working Group (on Differentiation between Medical Procedures and Beauty Services) is of the view that these procedures involve the use of complicated and sophisticated equipment. They take note of the fact that the Department of Health is in the process of coming up with the recommendation to go ahead with the regulation of this medical device (through legislation). So in this particular context, the Working Group considered it is more appropriate for this medical device or the use of this medical device to be regulated in the context of the future proposed legislation regarding medical devices.

Reporter: (On how the guidelines can help the public.)

Secretary for Food and Health: These guidelines will be issued to three parties, the beauty service (providers), the medical practitioners and the general public, so that all parties concerned will be very clear that we have taken a view that because of the inherent risks, certain beauty procedures should be performed by or under the authority of registered medical practitioners.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, November 1, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:40

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