PRESS RELEASE
No: 616/2024
Date: 30th September 2024
Government departments raise awareness on medical cosmetic industry
Public Health and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are working in conjunction with each other to raise awareness on the risks associated with medical cosmetic treatments and how consumers can check their clinics and practitioners before undertaking treatments. An invasive aesthetic service refers to any procedure that breaks the skin. In the context of aesthetic procedures, this may range from implants to less invasive procedures involving minor incisions on the body.
Changes to the legislation are being worked on following growing concerns with regards to this industry. Hospitalisations in the UK have risen in recent times due to counterfeit products being used. Public Health has also expressed concerns about how unregulated drugs, such as semaglutide injection (Wegovy & Ozempic), can result in triggering eating disorders as well as hospitalisations.
The Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, commented: “Before undergoing any invasive beauty procedure, it’s essential to ask who is performing it, what is being used, and how it is being done to protect your health. If a clinic is dealing with prescription only medicines (such as Botox) then these have to be prescribed by doctors who would often be working for or affiliated to a particular clinic. Unregulated invasive beauty treatments can lead to serious health risks – make sure you’re informed and choose qualified professionals. Your safety is paramount; always ensure that anyone administering invasive beauty treatments is properly trained and adheres to safe practices.”
The CEO of Business and the OFT, John Paul Fa, commented: “Aesthetics clinics are licensed to carry out different treatments based on the qualifications of the people carrying out those treatments. Consumers can check our website on the link below to see what activities a business is licensed to carry out. Whilst the OFT would licence the clinic for its business, doctors prescribing prescription only medicines would be registered at an individual level with the Gibraltar Medical Registration Board (GMRB), a voluntary statutory body responsible for the professional regulation of doctors, dentists and pharmacists in Gibraltar. The licensing of these clinics is a process that we undertake in consultation with the GMRB.”
The Minister for Health, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “Work is underway on reforming the legislation which regulates Gibraltar’s medical cosmetic industry. Finalisation of a first draft has almost been completed, with further consultation planned.”
Link to search a clinic’s approved licensing activity: https://www.oft.gov.gi/business-license-register-search
Link to search a practitioner’s registration status with the GMRB: https://www.gmrb.gi/check-registration-status/
Link to search for a medication’s classification via the EMC (electronic medicines compendium): https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/
