Voters in Quang Ngai province have recently asked the Ministry of Health (MOH) to propose amendments to Decree 96/2023, which includes provisions of the Medical Examination and Treatment Law, to the government. They cited shortcomings in managing, inspecting, and supervising spas, mother-and-baby care services, and aesthetic service facilities that do not use injectable anesthetics (tattooing, microblading).

In the document sent to MOH after the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, QuangNgai voters noted that under this decree, these service types are not required to have operating licenses, making it very difficult to manage, inspect and supervise these facilities.

Responding to the issue, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said under the Medical Examination and Treatment Law (effective from 2024), medical facilities related to aesthetic services include general hospitals with aesthetic departments or those performing aesthetic specialty techniques; specialized aesthetic hospitals; and specialized aesthetic clinics.

The head of the health sector reported that aside from licensed medical facilities related to aesthetics, many unlicensed aesthetic facilities still operate illegally, disguised as beauty salons, skincare centers, hair salons, aesthetic clinics or spas.

"Notably, staff at many of these facilities lack proper training and operate beyond their legal scope. Some only attend basic vocational courses on caregiving, beauty, or tattooing through hands-on guidance, but they still perform techniques like filler or Botox injections, leading to serious consequences and complications," Lan said.

In reality, major medical institutions like the Central Dermatology Hospital, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, and the Central Eye Hospital frequently receive cases of complications from unsafe filler and Botox injections, laser treatments, skin peels, and interventions exceeding the facility’s capacity.

The Central Dermatology Hospital receives 1-3 beauty-related cases daily that need to be hospitalized. Associate Prof Dr Le Huu Doanh, Director of the Central Dermatology Hospital, said the patients undergo aesthetic procedures at unregistered facilities, performed by non-doctors without certified training in aesthetic surgery.

In some cases, invasive procedures are done by hairdressers or shampooers who "pick up" skills from external courses, leading to severe complications when issues arise.

Viet Duc Friendship Hospital recently handled a series of aesthetic complication cases  after filler injections. Victims were young people, including cases in which they knew the injector wasn’t a doctor but still allowed them to perform the procedure at home. As a result, patients suffered blockages in the ocular vascular system and central retinal artery, causing severe optic nerve damage.

Lan said the ministry is reviewing adjustments needed in Decree 96/2023 to align with reality and ensure the management of aesthetic service facilities. It plans to propose the amendment of the decree.

Vo Thu